Big Wood ✦ Ancient woodland 28 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🍂 Seasonal
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 28 ha
Places › England › North West › West Lancashire Getting here
53.58805, -2.70670
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 🌿 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 🌤️ Visiting this summer
🌞 Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings 🌿 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 £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🌿 Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Magpie +74 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Magpie +74 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Himalayan Balsam, Hogweed, Coltsfoot +114 more · last seen 2026
Free
Plants — Hogweed, White Dead-nettle, Common Nettle +13 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Western Honey Bee, Broad-bodied Chaser, Meliscaeva auricollis +20 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Western Honey Bee, Broad-bodied Chaser, Meliscaeva auricollis +20 more · last seen 2025
Free
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 2 signed routes nearby · 16 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
GM Ringway Stage 15 Walking route 16.2 km ▾
GM Ringway Stage 15 - Blackrod to Wigan
Named route Length 16.2 km Regional walking route
Show on map GM Ringway Stage 16 Walking route 16.3 km ▾
GM Ringway Stage 16 - Wigan to Leigh
Named route Length 16.3 km Regional walking route
Show on map Apple Lane public footpath · 386 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 386 m Path type: footway
Show on map Mossy Lea Fold public footpath · 106 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 106 m Path type: service
Show on map Dawber Delph public footpath · 152 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 152 m Surface asphalt Path type: residential
Show on map 18 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Pier to Pier cycle route Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 562 National Cycle Network
Show on map Standish Mineral Line Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Lancashire Cycleway (Southern Loop) Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 91 Regional cycle route
Show on map Route 55 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 55 National Cycle Network
Show on map Main Route Cycling route 165 m ▾
Named route Ref 55 Length 165 m National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface asphalt
Show on map Main Route Cycling route 74 m ▾
Named route Ref 562 Length 74 m National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface unsealedloose
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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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
Wildlife to spot
12,781 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 12,781 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 30 species
spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Woodpigeon · Jackdaw · Magpie · House Sparrow · Carrion Crow +25
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Magpie Pica pica House Sparrow Passer domesticus Carrion Crow Corvus corone Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Blackbird Turdus merula Robin Erithacus rubecula Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto House Martin Delichon urbicum Goosander Mergus merganser Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Coal Tit Periparus ater Nuthatch Sitta europaea Redwing Turdus iliacus Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Herring Gull Larus argentatus Tawny Owl Strix aluco Jay Garrulus glandarius Merlin Falco columbarius Swallow Hirundo rustica Rock Dove Columba livia Swift Apus apus Starling Sturnus vulgaris Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus Dipper Cinclus cinclus Goldcrest Regulus regulus 🦌 Mammals 4 species
spring autumn winter
2026 ▾
Brown Hare · Roe Deer · Rabbit · Grey Squirrel
Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus2025 Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus2025 Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis2025 🐝 Insects 11 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Broad-bodied Chaser · Migrant Hawker · Emperor Dragonfly · Red-legged Shieldbug · Brown Hawker +6
Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis Keeled Skimmer Orthetrum coerulescens Common Orange Lichen · Elder Whitewash · Physcia adscendens · Crystal Brain · Nettle Pox
Common Orange Lichen Xanthoria parietina Elder Whitewash Xylodon sambuci Physcia adscendens Physcia adscendens Crystal Brain Exidia nucleata Nettle Pox Calloria tremelloides 🌿 Plants 37 species
spring summer
2026 ▾
White Dead-nettle · Broad Buckler-fern · Himalayan Balsam · Hemlock Water-dropwort · Bracken +32
White Dead-nettle Lamium album Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata2025 Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera2025 Hemlock Water-dropwort Oenanthe crocata2025 Bracken Pteridium aquilinum2025 Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 12,781 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 30 species
spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Woodpigeon · Jackdaw · Magpie · House Sparrow · Carrion Crow +25
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Magpie Pica pica House Sparrow Passer domesticus Carrion Crow Corvus corone Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Blackbird Turdus merula Robin Erithacus rubecula Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto House Martin Delichon urbicum Goosander Mergus merganser Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Coal Tit Periparus ater Nuthatch Sitta europaea Redwing Turdus iliacus Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Herring Gull Larus argentatus Tawny Owl Strix aluco Jay Garrulus glandarius Merlin Falco columbarius Swallow Hirundo rustica Rock Dove Columba livia Swift Apus apus Starling Sturnus vulgaris Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus Dipper Cinclus cinclus Goldcrest Regulus regulus 🦌 Mammals 4 species
spring autumn winter
2026 ▾
Brown Hare · Roe Deer · Rabbit · Grey Squirrel
Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus2025 Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus2025 Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis2025 🐝 Insects 11 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Broad-bodied Chaser · Migrant Hawker · Emperor Dragonfly · Red-legged Shieldbug · Brown Hawker +6
Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis Keeled Skimmer Orthetrum coerulescens Common Orange Lichen · Elder Whitewash · Physcia adscendens · Crystal Brain · Nettle Pox
Common Orange Lichen Xanthoria parietina Elder Whitewash Xylodon sambuci Physcia adscendens Physcia adscendens Crystal Brain Exidia nucleata Nettle Pox Calloria tremelloides 🌿 Plants 37 species
spring summer
2026 ▾
White Dead-nettle · Broad Buckler-fern · Himalayan Balsam · Hemlock Water-dropwort · Bracken +32
White Dead-nettle Lamium album Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata2025 Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera2025 Hemlock Water-dropwort Oenanthe crocata2025 Bracken Pteridium aquilinum2025 Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
14-spot Ladybird
14-spot Ladybird
Propylea quattuordecimpunctata
Propylea quattuordecimpunctata
Helophilus pendulus Helophilus pendulus
Helophilus pendulus Helophilus pendulus
Syrphus Syrphus
Syrphus Syrphus
Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Meliscaeva auricollis Meliscaeva auricollis
Meliscaeva auricollis Meliscaeva auricollis Dog's Mercury
Dog's Mercury
Mercurialis perennis2025
Mercurialis perennis2025
Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis2025
Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis2025
Cowslip Primula veris2025
Cowslip Primula veris2025
Ramsons Allium ursinum2025
Ramsons Allium ursinum2025
Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara2025
Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara2025
Polypody Polypodium vulgare2025
Polypody Polypodium vulgare2025
Arrowhead Sagittaria sagittifolia2025
Arrowhead Sagittaria sagittifolia2025
Field Scabious Knautia arvensis2025
Field Scabious Knautia arvensis2025
Petty Spurge Euphorbia peplus2025
Petty Spurge Euphorbia peplus2025
Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica2025
Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica2025
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata2025
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata2025
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium2025
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium2025
Wall-rue Asplenium ruta-muraria2025
Wall-rue Asplenium ruta-muraria2025
Fringecups Tellima grandiflora2025
Fringecups Tellima grandiflora2025
Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus2025
Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus2025
Hairy Sedge Carex hirta2025
Hairy Sedge Carex hirta2025
Bristly Oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides2025
Bristly Oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides2025
Bullate Cotoneaster Cotoneaster rehderi2025
Bullate Cotoneaster Cotoneaster rehderi2025
Oval Sedge Carex leporina2025
Oval Sedge Carex leporina2025
Hornbeam Carpinus betulus2025
Hornbeam Carpinus betulus2025
Dove's-foot Crane's-bill Geranium molle2025
Dove's-foot Crane's-bill Geranium molle2025
Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans2025
Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans2025
Floating Pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides2025
Floating Pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides2025
Red Valerian Centranthus ruber2025
Red Valerian Centranthus ruber2025
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris2025
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris2025
Columbine Aquilegia vulgaris2025
Columbine Aquilegia vulgaris2025
Aubretia Aubrieta deltoidea2025
Aubretia Aubrieta deltoidea2025
Bird Cherry Prunus padus2025
Bird Cherry Prunus padus2025
Field Maple Acer campestre2025
Field Maple Acer campestre2025
Horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum2025
Horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum2025
Hazel Corylus avellana2025
Hazel Corylus avellana2025
Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum2025
Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum2025 Events & activities nearby Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
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