Ark Wood ✦ Ancient woodland 7 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🍂 Seasonal
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 7 ha
Places › England › North West › Cheshire West and Chester Getting here
53.23777, -2.71698
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ 🌞 Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings 🐕 Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails 📍 Open access throughout summer — no booking required 🌤️ Visiting this summer
🌞 Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings 🐕 Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails 📍 Open access throughout summer — no booking required £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🌿 Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Great Tit +69 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Great Tit +69 more · last seen 2026
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Raspberry, Lesser Celandine, Hogweed +3 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Four-spotted Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly +130 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Four-spotted Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly +130 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic; Plants — Raspberry, Hogweed, Wood-sorrel
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 11 signed routes nearby · 17 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
Norley Wildflower Memorial Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Cheshire Circuit Walking route ▾
Named route Regional walking route
Show on map Weaver Way Walking route ▾
Named route Regional walking route
Show on map North Cheshire Way Walking route ▾
Named route Listed length 114km Regional walking route
Show on map Delamere Way Walking route ▾
Named route Regional walking route
Show on map 9 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Cheshire Cycleway Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 70 Regional cycle route
Show on map Route 71 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 71 Regional cycle route
Show on map Fruits of the Forest Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref Fruits of the Forest Local cycle route
Show on map N/A Cycling route 1 km ▾
Named route Ref 71 Length 1 km National Cycle Network On-road Surface asphalt
Show on map N/A Cycling route 103 m ▾
Named route Ref 71 Length 103 m National Cycle Network On-road Surface asphalt
Show on map N/A Cycling route 5.5 km ▾
Named route Ref 71 Length 5.5 km National Cycle Network On-road Surface asphalt
Show on map 3 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Hunger Hill Trail Mountain bike route ▾
Named route Ref Blue Delamere
Show on map Whitemoor Trail Mountain bike route ▾
Named route Ref White Delamere
Show on map Delamere Blue Cycle Trail Mountain bike route 10 km ▾
Named route Length 10 km Round trip Local cycle route
Show on map ✦ Ancient woodland — continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD. A rare and irreplaceable habitat, rich in biodiversity and historical character.
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
All Historic
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id: 9e7fdfe4-de0d-4a84-a287-03db93b44122
UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
© 2026 Glade · Made with care for UK green spaces
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Wildlife to spot
11,349 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 11,349 records · National Biodiversity Network Woodpigeon · Robin · Blue Tit · Long-tailed Tit · Song Thrush +40
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Rook Corvus frugilegus2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2025 Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Siskin Spinus spinus2025 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Goldcrest Regulus regulus2025 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus2025 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2025 Raven Corvus corax2025 Magpie Pica pica2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius2025 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2025 Crossbill Loxia curvirostra2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava2025 House Martin Delichon urbicum2025 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis2025 Gadwall Mareca strepera2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Treecreeper Certhia familiaris2025 Greylag Goose Anser anser2025 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2025 Skylark Alauda arvensis2025 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris2025 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii2025 Grey Squirrel · Wood Mouse · Common Shrew · Common Pipistrelle · Badger
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus2025 Common Shrew Sorex araneus2025 Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus2025 Badger Meles meles2025 🐸 Amphibians 1 species
autumn
2025 ▾
Common Toad
Four-spotted Chaser · Large Red Damselfly · Azure Damselfly · White-faced Darter · Common Darter +37
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella White-faced Darter Leucorrhinia dubia Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum Black Darter Sympetrum danae Emperor Dragonfly 🌿 Plants 2 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Raspberry · Hogweed
Raspberry Rubus idaeus Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 11,349 records · National Biodiversity Network Woodpigeon · Robin · Blue Tit · Long-tailed Tit · Song Thrush +40
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Rook Corvus frugilegus2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2025 Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Siskin Spinus spinus2025 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Goldcrest Regulus regulus2025 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus2025 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2025 Raven Corvus corax2025 Magpie Pica pica2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius2025 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2025 Crossbill Loxia curvirostra2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava2025 House Martin Delichon urbicum2025 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis2025 Gadwall Mareca strepera2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Treecreeper Certhia familiaris2025 Greylag Goose Anser anser2025 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2025 Skylark Alauda arvensis2025 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris2025 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii2025 Grey Squirrel · Wood Mouse · Common Shrew · Common Pipistrelle · Badger
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus2025 Common Shrew Sorex araneus2025 Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus2025 Badger Meles meles2025 🐸 Amphibians 1 species
autumn
2025 ▾
Common Toad
Four-spotted Chaser · Large Red Damselfly · Azure Damselfly · White-faced Darter · Common Darter +37
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella White-faced Darter Leucorrhinia dubia Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum Black Darter Sympetrum danae Emperor Dragonfly 🌿 Plants 2 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Raspberry · Hogweed
Raspberry Rubus idaeus Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Anax imperator
Anax imperator
Carabus problematicus Carabus problematicus
Carabus problematicus Carabus problematicus
7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata
7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata
Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale
Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale
Common Earwig Forficula auricularia/dentata agg.
Common Earwig Forficula auricularia/dentata agg.
Melanotus castanipes Melanotus castanipes
Melanotus castanipes Melanotus castanipes
Leistus fulvibarbis Leistus fulvibarbis
Leistus fulvibarbis Leistus fulvibarbis
Nebria brevicollis Nebria brevicollis
Nebria brevicollis Nebria brevicollis
Black Clock Pterostichus madidus
Black Clock Pterostichus madidus
Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
Common Sun Beetle Amara aenea
Common Sun Beetle Amara aenea
Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata
Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata
Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Common Hawker Aeshna juncea
Common Hawker Aeshna juncea
Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis
Orchestes rusci Orchestes rusci
Orchestes rusci Orchestes rusci
Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas
Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas
Cuckoo-Spit Insect Philaenus spumarius
Cuckoo-Spit Insect Philaenus spumarius
Syrphus Syrphus
Syrphus Syrphus
Scathophaga stercoraria Scathophaga stercoraria
Scathophaga stercoraria Scathophaga stercoraria
Criorhina floccosa Criorhina floccosa
Criorhina floccosa Criorhina floccosa
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax
Cortinicara gibbosa Cortinicara gibbosa
Cortinicara gibbosa Cortinicara gibbosa
Bembidion quadrimaculatum Bembidion quadrimaculatum
Bembidion quadrimaculatum Bembidion quadrimaculatum
Cartodere bifasciata Cartodere bifasciata
Cartodere bifasciata Cartodere bifasciata
Agonum fuliginosum Agonum fuliginosum
Agonum fuliginosum Agonum fuliginosum
Pterostichus diligens Pterostichus diligens
Pterostichus diligens Pterostichus diligens
Euophryum confine Euophryum confine
Euophryum confine Euophryum confine
Rhizophagus dispar Rhizophagus dispar
Rhizophagus dispar Rhizophagus dispar
Cerylon histeroides Cerylon histeroides
Cerylon histeroides Cerylon histeroides
Pterostichus strenuus Pterostichus strenuus
Pterostichus strenuus Pterostichus strenuus
Acupalpus dubius Acupalpus dubius
Acupalpus dubius Acupalpus dubius
Loricera pilicornis Loricera pilicornis
Loricera pilicornis Loricera pilicornis
Acrotrichis intermedia Acrotrichis intermedia
Acrotrichis intermedia Acrotrichis intermedia 