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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Backhouse Wood

✦ Ancient woodland18 ha

📷 David Kemp · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeForaging
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome18 ha

Getting here

51.75991, -0.15932

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦83+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Great Tit and Robin
  • 🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat
Parking

Best for

9 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Great Tit, Robin, Blue Tit +80 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Great Tit, Robin, Blue Tit +80 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals

Free

Foraging

Traditional orchard — seasonal fruit, fungi and wild plants; Plants — Bramble, Hawthorn, Hogweed +1 more foraging species

Varies

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Bramble, Ivy, Hawthorn +8 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Insect spotting

Traditional orchard — specialist orchard insects and lichens

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

11 signed routes nearby · 20 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Red TrailWalking route
Named routeRound tripLocal walking route
Hertfordshire WayWalking route267 km

Long distance path

Named routeLength 267 kmRegional walking route
Hertfordshire Chain WalkWalking route

Not waymarked

Named routeRegional walking route
WGC100 Centenary WalkWalking route20.2 km

Created for Welwyn Garden City's 100th anniversary, a circular walk around the whole town

Named routeLength 20.2 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Broxbourne Woods NNR TrailWalking route17.5 km
Named routeLength 17.5 kmRound tripRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

97 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 12Cycling route
Named routeRef 12National Cycle Network
Route 61Cycling route34 km

Route 61 travels from Maidenhead to Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and Hertford before arriving near Hoddesdon.

Named routeRef 61Length 34 kmNational Cycle Network
NCN National Route 57Cycling route
Named routeRef 57National Cycle Network
NCN 12 delistedCycling route
Named routeRef 12National Cycle Network
NCN12 proposed reroutingCycling route
Named routeRef 12National Cycle Network
Ayot GreenwayCycling route
Named route
🐴

Horse riding

9 public paths nearby

Public paths

No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Valley of Essendon Brook

📷 David Kemp · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Valley of Essendon Brook

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Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🦉NORTHAW GREAT WOOD COUNTRY PARKNature reserve4.3 km→🏞️NORTHAW GREAT WOODCountry park4.3 km→🌱Moneyhole Lane Playing FieldsUrban park4.2 km→🌱Coronation GardensUrban park4.5 km→🌱Coronation GardensUrban park4.5 km→✦HATFIELD HOUSEHistoric site3.1 km→

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