Purlieu Bank, Epping
✦ Ancient woodland1 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🌳Ancient🦉Wildlife
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome1 ha
Getting here
51.68689, 0.10286
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦52+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Blue Tit and Great Tit
- 🌳Ancient woodland is at its best in summer here
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦52+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Blue Tit and Great Tit
- 🌳Ancient woodland is at its best in summer here
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
Best for
10 activities🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch +49 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
🌳Ancient woodland
Strong match
Ancient woodland — continuous woodland since before 1600
Birds — Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch +49 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland priority habitat
Historic site with public access
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Aphrophora alni, White Clover Seed Weevil +114 more · last seen 2025
Dogs allowed with public access
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km7 signed routes nearby · 30 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Three Forests WayWalking route96 km▾
Named routeLength 96 kmRound tripRegional walking route
Epping Forest Big WalkWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Beech TrailWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Forest WayWalking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
Stort Valley WayWalking route▾
The Plainpublic footpath · 140 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 140 mPath type: residential
The Woodyardpublic footpath · 135 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 135 mPath type: service
Thornwoodpublic footpath · 74 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 74 mSurface dirtPath type: service
1 public path nearby
Public paths
No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.
About this historic site
Scheduled Monument
Photos
15 photos from nearby open sources
Footpath bridge over M25 south of Epping
Photos
Footpath bridge over M25 south of Epping
✦ Ancient✓ Public accessFree entry🐶 Dogs
Good to know
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
- 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Wildlife to spot
19,638 records from NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
19,638 records · NBN Atlas🐦Birds52 species
springsummer
2025Blue Tit · Great Tit · Goldfinch · Robin · Dunnock
+47 more speciesHide species list
All 52 birds recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Great TitParus major
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- DunnockPrunella modularis2024
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- GreenfinchChloris chloris
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- MagpiePica pica
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2023
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
- NuthatchSitta europaea
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2023
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- JayGarrulus glandarius2024
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2022
- Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2024
- WhitethroatCurruca communis2023
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2023
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2023
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2022
- ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- PochardAythya ferina
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca2024
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2023
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis2023
- Picus viridis viridisPicus viridis viridis2023
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco2022
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2022
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2022
- Anas platyrhynchos xAnas platyrhynchos x2022
- CootFulica atra2022
- RookCorvus frugilegus2022
- Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2021
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2021
- SwallowHirundo rustica2021
- SwiftApus apus2021
- Common RedpollAcanthis flammea flammea/rostrata2021
🦌Mammals9 species
springsummerautumn
2026Fallow Deer · Red Fox · Hedgehog · Rabbit · Brown Rat
+4 more speciesHide species list
All 9 mammals recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Fallow DeerDama dama
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes2025
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2022
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2021
- Brown RatRattus norvegicus
🦎Reptiles2 species
springsummer
2025Common Lizard · Slow-worm
🐸Amphibians3 species
springsummer
2025Great Crested Newt · Common Frog · Smooth Newt
🐝Insects117 species
springsummer
20257-spot Ladybird · Aphrophora alni · White Clover Seed Weevil · Swollen-thighed Beetle · Malthinus flaveolus
+112 more speciesHide species list
All 117 insects recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Aphrophora alniAphrophora alni2021
- White Clover Seed WeevilProtapion fulvipes2021
- Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis2024
- Malthinus flaveolusMalthinus flaveolus
Holly · Yellow-rattle · Heath Plait-moss · Bracken
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
19,638 records · NBN Atlas🐦Birds52 species
springsummer
2025Blue Tit · Great Tit · Goldfinch · Robin · Dunnock
+47 more speciesHide species list
All 52 birds recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Great TitParus major
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- DunnockPrunella modularis2024
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- GreenfinchChloris chloris
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- MagpiePica pica
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2023
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
- NuthatchSitta europaea
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2023
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- JayGarrulus glandarius2024
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2022
- Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2024
- WhitethroatCurruca communis2023
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2023
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2023
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2022
- ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- PochardAythya ferina
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca2024
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2023
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis2023
- Picus viridis viridisPicus viridis viridis2023
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco2022
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2022
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2022
- Anas platyrhynchos xAnas platyrhynchos x2022
- CootFulica atra2022
- RookCorvus frugilegus2022
- Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2021
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2021
- SwallowHirundo rustica2021
- SwiftApus apus2021
- Common RedpollAcanthis flammea flammea/rostrata2021
🦌Mammals9 species
springsummerautumn
2026Fallow Deer · Red Fox · Hedgehog · Rabbit · Brown Rat
+4 more speciesHide species list
All 9 mammals recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- Fallow DeerDama dama
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes2025
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2022
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2021
- Brown RatRattus norvegicus
🦎Reptiles2 species
springsummer
2025Common Lizard · Slow-worm
🐸Amphibians3 species
springsummer
2025Great Crested Newt · Common Frog · Smooth Newt
🐝Insects117 species
springsummer
20257-spot Ladybird · Aphrophora alni · White Clover Seed Weevil · Swollen-thighed Beetle · Malthinus flaveolus
+112 more speciesHide species list
All 117 insects recorded nearby (NBN Atlas)
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Aphrophora alniAphrophora alni2021
- White Clover Seed WeevilProtapion fulvipes2021
- Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis2024
- Malthinus flaveolusMalthinus flaveolus
Holly · Yellow-rattle · Heath Plait-moss · Bracken
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
2025
2025
OtterLutra lutra2025OtterLutra lutra2025Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2024Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2024Indet. DeerCervidae2023Indet. DeerCervidae2023MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi2022MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi20222021
2021
Pea-leaf WeevilSitona lineatus2021Pea-leaf WeevilSitona lineatus2021Common Pollen BeetleMeligethes aeneus2021Common Pollen BeetleMeligethes aeneus2021Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2021Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2021Oedemera luridaOedemera lurida2021Oedemera luridaOedemera lurida202114-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctataDeraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescensDeraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens2021Deraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescensDeraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens2021Sepsis fulgensSepsis fulgens2021Sepsis fulgensSepsis fulgens2021Strawberry-blossom WeevilAnthonomus rubi2021Strawberry-blossom WeevilAnthonomus rubi2021Olibrus flavicornisOlibrus flavicornis2021Olibrus flavicornisOlibrus flavicornis2021Clover-root WeevilSitona hispidulus2021Clover-root WeevilSitona hispidulus2021Ceratapion gibbirostreCeratapion gibbirostre2021Ceratapion gibbirostreCeratapion gibbirostre2021Lily BeetleLilioceris lilii2021Lily BeetleLilioceris lilii2021Acorn WeevilCurculio glandium2021Acorn WeevilCurculio glandium2021Anaspis frontalisAnaspis frontalis2021Anaspis frontalisAnaspis frontalis2021Batman HoverflyMyathropa floreaBatman HoverflyMyathropa floreaAgrilus cuprescensAgrilus cuprescensAgrilus cuprescensAgrilus cuprescensNemopoda nitidulaNemopoda nitidulaNemopoda nitidulaNemopoda nitidulaLarge Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphulaLarge Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphulaElm-currant AphidEriosoma ulmiElm-currant AphidEriosoma ulmi10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctataSmall TortoiseshellAglais urticaeSmall TortoiseshellAglais urticaeRose ChaferCetonia aurata2024Rose ChaferCetonia aurata2024Closterotomus trivialisClosterotomus trivialis2024Closterotomus trivialisClosterotomus trivialis2024Eupeodes corollaeEupeodes corollae2024Eupeodes corollaeEupeodes corollae2024EumerusEumerus2024EumerusEumerus202416-spot LadybirdTytthaspis sedecimpunctata202416-spot LadybirdTytthaspis sedecimpunctata2024Stag BeetleLucanus cervus2023Stag BeetleLucanus cervus2023Scathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercoraria2023Scathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercoraria2023Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2023Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2023Corizus hyoscyamiCorizus hyoscyami2022Corizus hyoscyamiCorizus hyoscyami2022Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2022Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2022Common Flower BugAnthocoris nemorum2022Common Flower BugAnthocoris nemorum2022Maiden's BlushCyclophora punctaria2022Maiden's BlushCyclophora punctaria2022Holly BlueCelastrina argiolus2022Holly BlueCelastrina argiolus2022Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2021Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2021Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2021Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2021Plagiognathus (Plagiognathus) arbustorumPlagiognathus (Plagiognathus) arbustorum2021Plagiognathus (Plagiognathus) arbustorumPlagiognathus (Plagiognathus) arbustorum2021Oak Bush-cricketMeconema thalassinum2021Oak Bush-cricketMeconema thalassinum202124-spot LadybirdSubcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata202124-spot LadybirdSubcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata2021Deraeocoris (Deraeocoris) ruberDeraeocoris (Deraeocoris) ruber2021Deraeocoris (Deraeocoris) ruberDeraeocoris (Deraeocoris) ruber2021Common DamselbugNabis (Nabis) rugosus2021Common DamselbugNabis (Nabis) rugosus2021Phytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipesPhytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipes2021Phytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipesPhytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipes2021Liocoris tripustulatusLiocoris tripustulatus2021Liocoris tripustulatusLiocoris tripustulatus2021Cassida vibexCassida vibex2021Cassida vibexCassida vibex2021Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2021Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2021Pilophorus perplexusPilophorus perplexus2021Pilophorus perplexusPilophorus perplexus2021Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2021Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2021Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus2021Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus2021Dock BugCoreus marginatus2021Dock BugCoreus marginatus2021Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2021Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2021Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2021Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2021Tree Damsel BugHimacerus (Himacerus) apterus2021Tree Damsel BugHimacerus (Himacerus) apterus2021Neolygus viridisNeolygus viridis2021Neolygus viridisNeolygus viridis2021Megaloceroea recticornisMegaloceroea recticornis2021Megaloceroea recticornisMegaloceroea recticornis2021Tortoise BugEurygaster testudinaria2021Tortoise BugEurygaster testudinaria2021Jersey TigerEuplagia quadripunctaria2021Jersey TigerEuplagia quadripunctaria2021MegachileMegachile2021MegachileMegachile2021Migrant HawkerAeshna mixta2021Migrant HawkerAeshna mixta2021Bright-line Brown-eyeLacanobia oleracea2021Bright-line Brown-eyeLacanobia oleracea2021Strawberry Seed BeetleHarpalus rufipes2021Strawberry Seed BeetleHarpalus rufipes2021Harpalus affinisHarpalus affinis2021Harpalus affinisHarpalus affinis2021Hypera plantaginisHypera plantaginis2021Hypera plantaginisHypera plantaginis2021Stenopterapion tenueStenopterapion tenue2021Stenopterapion tenueStenopterapion tenue2021Anthocomus rufusAnthocomus rufus2021Anthocomus rufusAnthocomus rufus2021Sitona humeralisSitona humeralis2021Sitona humeralisSitona humeralis2021Gorse WeevilExapion ulicis2021Gorse WeevilExapion ulicis2021Cortinicara gibbosaCortinicara gibbosa2021Cortinicara gibbosaCortinicara gibbosa2021Least CarpetIdaea rusticata2021Least CarpetIdaea rusticata2021Broad CenturionChloromyia formosa2021Broad CenturionChloromyia formosa2021Little SnipeflyChrysopilus asiliformis2021Little SnipeflyChrysopilus asiliformis2021Hemicrepidius hirtusHemicrepidius hirtus2021Hemicrepidius hirtusHemicrepidius hirtus2021Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2021Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2021Agriotes sputatorAgriotes sputator2021Agriotes sputatorAgriotes sputator2021Rhinoncus castorRhinoncus castor2021Rhinoncus castorRhinoncus castor2021Harpalus rubripesHarpalus rubripes2021Harpalus rubripesHarpalus rubripes2021Axinotarsus marginalisAxinotarsus marginalis2021Axinotarsus marginalisAxinotarsus marginalis2021Cantharis lateralisCantharis lateralis2021Cantharis lateralisCantharis lateralis2021Orchestes pilosusOrchestes pilosus2021Orchestes pilosusOrchestes pilosus2021Clover Leaf WeevilHypera postica2021Clover Leaf WeevilHypera postica2021Malthodes minimusMalthodes minimus2021Malthodes minimusMalthodes minimus2021Hadroplontus lituraHadroplontus litura2021Hadroplontus lituraHadroplontus litura2021Glocianus distinctusGlocianus distinctus2021Glocianus distinctusGlocianus distinctus2021Hemicoelus fulvicornisHemicoelus fulvicornis2021Hemicoelus fulvicornisHemicoelus fulvicornis2021Ischnopterapion lotiIschnopterapion loti2021Ischnopterapion lotiIschnopterapion loti2021Larinus turbinatusLarinus turbinatus2021Larinus turbinatusLarinus turbinatus2021Rosemary BeetleChrysolina americana2021Rosemary BeetleChrysolina americana2021Rhinoceros BeetleSinodendron cylindricum2021Rhinoceros BeetleSinodendron cylindricum2021Taeniapion urticariumTaeniapion urticarium2021Taeniapion urticariumTaeniapion urticarium2021Ceratapion onopordiCeratapion onopordi2021Ceratapion onopordiCeratapion onopordi2021Stilbus oblongusStilbus oblongus2021Stilbus oblongusStilbus oblongus2021Twig-cutting WeevilInvolvulus icosandriae2021Twig-cutting WeevilInvolvulus icosandriae2021Corticarina minutaCorticarina minuta2021Corticarina minutaCorticarina minuta2021Nettle Pollen BeetleBrachypterus urticae2021Nettle Pollen BeetleBrachypterus urticae2021Clover Seed WeevilProtapion trifolii2021Clover Seed WeevilProtapion trifolii2021Anaspis maculataAnaspis maculata2021Anaspis maculataAnaspis maculata2021Perapion hydrolapathiPerapion hydrolapathi2021Perapion hydrolapathiPerapion hydrolapathi2021Acupalpus exiguusAcupalpus exiguus2021Acupalpus exiguusAcupalpus exiguus2021Hypera nigrirostrisHypera nigrirostris2021Hypera nigrirostrisHypera nigrirostris2021Cantharis crypticaCantharis cryptica2021Cantharis crypticaCantharis cryptica2021Cabbage Stem WeevilCeutorhynchus pallidactylus2021Cabbage Stem WeevilCeutorhynchus pallidactylus2021Mecinus pyrasterMecinus pyraster2021Mecinus pyrasterMecinus pyraster2021Acupalpus meridianusAcupalpus meridianus2021Acupalpus meridianusAcupalpus meridianus2021Hairy Spider WeevilExomias pellucidus2021Hairy Spider WeevilExomias pellucidus2021Melanophthalma suturalisMelanophthalma suturalis2021Melanophthalma suturalisMelanophthalma suturalis2021Archarius pyrrhocerasArcharius pyrrhoceras2021Archarius pyrrhocerasArcharius pyrrhoceras2021Cordylepherus viridisCordylepherus viridis2021Cordylepherus viridisCordylepherus viridis2021Cabbage Gall WeevilCeutorhynchus assimilis2021Cabbage Gall WeevilCeutorhynchus assimilis2021Rhagonycha lignosaRhagonycha lignosa2021Rhagonycha lignosaRhagonycha lignosa2021Microlestes maurusMicrolestes maurus2021Microlestes maurusMicrolestes maurus2021Small Nettle WeevilNedyus quadrimaculatus2021Small Nettle WeevilNedyus quadrimaculatus2021Trichosirocalus troglodytesTrichosirocalus troglodytes2021Trichosirocalus troglodytesTrichosirocalus troglodytes2021Minotaur BeetleTyphaeus typhoeus2021Minotaur BeetleTyphaeus typhoeus2021Events & activities nearby
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