OUR WOODLAND
The woodland at Viper Archers is like somthing out of a fairy tale, Its just the perfect location for Archery and mostly escapism from reality.
Flora
In our ancient woodland, you would typically find a rich diversity of flora that thrives in the dappled sunlight and shaded areas. Towering oak and ash trees form the canopy, while beneath them, a variety of shrubs and younger trees such as hazel and beam can be seen. The forest floor is often carpeted with ferns, bluebells, and wild garlic, creating a vibrant ecosystem. Additionally, you might encounter delicate orchids and a range of mosses and mushrooms, which contribute to the woodland's unique character and biodiversity.
fauna
In our ancient woodland and streams that run through, you would find a rich variety fauna. Birds like robins, woodpeckers, and owls thrive in the trees, while mammals such as deer, foxes, and badgers roam the forest floor. The stream is home to aquatic life, including frogs, newts, and various fish species, while insects like dragonflies and butterflies flutter about, adding to the vibrant eco-system. This diverse habitat supports a delicate balance of life, making it a truly enchanting place to explore.
Tales and folklore from the local area.
Moorsholm is a village in Redcar and Cleveland, The North York Moors provide a backdrop for legends of bogles, giants, and the "White Lady" haunting the woods. This blend of gritty industrial grit and ethereal coastal magic ensures the region remains a place where every cliffside and cobblestone has a story to tell.
Because of Moorsholm proximity to the North Sea coast the area was vulnerable, historically, to attack by invaders from Scandinavia. The name of Moorsholm is of Viking origin with the suffix holm, which meant a settlement, being affixed to the location of the village by the moors: so meaning settlement by the moors.
Freebrough Hill
Have you ever driven to Viper and wondered about that Hill? Described in the 18th century as “the Silbury of the North”. This beautiful mother hill sits in the middle of Moorsholm moor a few hundred yards away from the busy A171 The Hill itself is surrounded by Myth, Folkelore and tall tales that are linked below. In truth as its name suggests the hill was dedicated to Freya and was a focal point for ancient man. The hill is surrounded by groups of barrows and assorted earthworks. The summit bears the scars of two hundred years of treasure hunters seeking freyas hoard. Below are some links to some folkelore tales surrounding the Hill. The myths, legends and folk stories about the origins of Freebrough Hill - but what is it? | Teesside Live Freebrough Hill (Sacred Hill) — The Modern Antiquarian
the serpent of handale
just a couple of miles from our woodland is Handale! a quiet spot these days, In ancient times, however, Handale wasn’t so pleasant to live in, as these quiet woods were infested by a huge and powerful dragon, which had the power to control young women. For many years it would bring young maidens under its spell, bewitching them into leaving their homes and entering its lair, where it would feast on their youthful limbs. A brave young man called Scaw was enraged by this waste of life, and after losing a friend to the vile worm, swore to destroy the dragon, or to perish in the attempt. Amid the tears and prayers of his friends and family, he buckled on his armour, and made his way to the serpents cave. He drew his sword, and struck a rock near the entrance to announce his presence. The dragon immediately came out, blasting fire from his nostrils, and rearing high his crested head to display the poisonous sting, which had destroyed many an angry young man before. Scaw, however, was made of braver stuff, and he held his ground. After a long and exhausting fight, the young hero prevailed, killing the dragon in the entrance to its own cave. Clambering over the body of the beast, he found an earl’s daughter still alive in the cave, whose family were so pleased with her timely rescue, they signed huge estates over to him. The wood where he killed the dragon is called Scaw Wood to this day, and the stone coffin in which he was buried can still be found in the grounds of the old Benedictine priory nearby.
wade and bell the giants
Once upon a time, in an age when magic breathed through the hills of Whitby, there lived two gentle giants named Wade and Bell. Though they possessed the power to move mountains, they spent their days shaping the world for the better. To help Bell cross the wild moors to milk her gargantuan cow, the pair set out to build a great stone road. Bell gathered heavy paving stones in her apron, but several times her apron strings snapped, spilling mounds of rock across the heather. Thus, by Wade’s hand and Bell’s "accidents," the Great Causey was laid. The couple also decided to build two magnificent castles, Mulgrave and Pickering. Because they were as frugal as they were strong, they shared a single enchanted hammer. Working miles apart, they would hurl the iron tool through the sky to one another, letting out a thunderous shout with every toss so the other might catch it safely. To this day, the massive ribs of Bell’s cow are said to be found in the halls of the north, It has also been told that Wade created the Hole Of Horcrum ehen he tried to get Bells attention as she walked the Moors with her cow. Wade took great scoops of Earth and threw them at her. His scoops of the earth was so big that when he threw them he created the Frebrough Hill, Roseberry Topping & High Cliff.