The official name of this wood is Layton Lings, however, in 2001 the previous owner Mr Alf Wilson sold the wood to Stockton Borough Council and as part of the transaction it was agreed that it would be called Alf’s Wood.









At present there are no main or way-marked pathways through this woodland, although the bridleway does skirt the southern edges of it. It is part of the conservation area within the park and is protected under the local nature reserve status of the perk as a whole. We do not encourage visitors to enter the woodland, but to appreciate it from the bridleway.

Layton Lings, covering some 30 acres, is predominantly broad-leaved woodland though there appears to have been some modification of the site by planting and small areas of felling (mostly of Birch trees).









The regular pattern of some of the older trees suggests that they may have been planted but overall the wood has a pattern of distribution of trees suggesting a high degree of natural development. In the southeast there are two lines of overhead power cables crossing the woodland and the ground beneath these has been cleared for maintenance of these lines and is more or less bare at present. A small area in the southeast corner is more open with a pond, a small area of grassland and scrub.









The main tree species are Ash and Oak with a range of other species including Wych Elm, Wild Cherry, Birch and Goat Willow. There are some beech and Sycamore that are presumed to have been planted as well as some exotics such as Rhododendron, found mainly at the south eastern edge. The ground flora is generally dominated by Bramble and ferns with localised pockets of Tufted Hair-grass and False-brome.