Birch Wood ✦ Ancient woodland 28 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🍂 Seasonal
Free entry Dogs welcome 28 ha
Places › England › South East › Tunbridge Wells Getting here
51.16475, 0.20182
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ ☀️ June — canopy now fully closed, creating cool dappled shade even on warm days 🌿 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
☀️ June — canopy now fully closed, creating cool dappled shade even on warm days 🌿 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, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Blue Tit +62 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Blue Tit +62 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed · last seen 2020
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — 16-spot Ladybird, 24-spot Ladybird, 22-spot Ladybird +95 more · last seen 2025; Insects — 16-spot Ladybird, 24-spot Ladybird, 22-spot Ladybird +95 more · last seen 2025
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
Ancient woodland — historic landscape
Free
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 7 signed routes nearby · 4 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk (Speldhurst Link) Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk (Groombridge Link) Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Sussex Border Path Walking route 220 km ▾
Named route Length 220 km Regional walking route
Show on map Eden Valley Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map SR742 public footpath · 261 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 261 m Surface grass Path type: footway
Show on map SR449 public footpath · 1.7 km ▾
Public path public footpath Length 1.7 km Path type: footway
Show on map 55 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
NCN National Route 18 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 18 National Cycle Network
Show on map NCN Regional Route 12 (Kent) Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 12 Regional cycle route
Show on map N/A Cycling route 138 m ▾
Named route Ref 12 Length 138 m National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface asphalt
Show on map N/A Cycling route 49 m ▾
Named route Ref 12 Length 49 m National Cycle Network On-road Surface asphalt
Show on map N/A Cycling route 180 m ▾
Named route Ref 12 Length 180 m National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface asphalt
Show on map N/A Cycling route 259 m ▾
Named route Ref 12 Length 259 m National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface asphalt
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: 9e6e42eb-2dfe-4b66-8a2a-4df09646fcd9
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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Bookable tours Wildlife to spot
2,962 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 2,962 records · National Biodiversity Network Blue Tit · Blackbird · Great Tit · Jackdaw · Carrion Crow +46
Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Blackbird Turdus merula Great Tit Parus major Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Carrion Crow Corvus corone Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Robin Erithacus rubecula Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Jay Garrulus glandarius Magpie Pica pica Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Coal Tit Periparus ater Goldcrest Regulus regulus House Sparrow Passer domesticus Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Greenfinch Chloris chloris Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Canada Goose Branta canadensis Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Rook Corvus frugilegus Nuthatch Sitta europaea Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Dunnock Prunella modularis Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Redwing Turdus iliacus Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Grey Heron Ardea cinerea House Martin Delichon urbicum Linnet Linaria cannabina Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Starling Sturnus vulgaris Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Common Gull Larus canus Green Woodpecker Picus viridis Greylag Goose Anser anser Stock Dove Columba oenas Swallow Hirundo rustica Barn Owl Tyto alba Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Coot Fulica atra Little Egret Egretta garzetta Skylark Alauda arvensis Stonechat Saxicola rubicola 🦌 Mammals 3 species
spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Grey Squirrel · Hazel Dormouse · Common Shrew
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Common Shrew Sorex araneus 🐸 Amphibians 4 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Smooth Newt · Common Frog · Common Toad · Great Crested Newt
Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris Common Frog Rana temporaria Common Toad Bufo bufo Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus 🐝 Insects 18 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Neomyia viridescens · Azure Damselfly · Common Red Soldier Beetle · 22-spot Ladybird · Eriothrix rufomaculata +13
Neomyia viridescens Neomyia viridescens Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva 22-spot Ladybird Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata Eriothrix rufomaculata Eriothrix rufomaculata Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 2,962 records · National Biodiversity Network Blue Tit · Blackbird · Great Tit · Jackdaw · Carrion Crow +46
Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Blackbird Turdus merula Great Tit Parus major Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Carrion Crow Corvus corone Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Robin Erithacus rubecula Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Jay Garrulus glandarius Magpie Pica pica Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Coal Tit Periparus ater Goldcrest Regulus regulus House Sparrow Passer domesticus Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Greenfinch Chloris chloris Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Canada Goose Branta canadensis Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Rook Corvus frugilegus Nuthatch Sitta europaea Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Dunnock Prunella modularis Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Redwing Turdus iliacus Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Grey Heron Ardea cinerea House Martin Delichon urbicum Linnet Linaria cannabina Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Starling Sturnus vulgaris Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Common Gull Larus canus Green Woodpecker Picus viridis Greylag Goose Anser anser Stock Dove Columba oenas Swallow Hirundo rustica Barn Owl Tyto alba Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Coot Fulica atra Little Egret Egretta garzetta Skylark Alauda arvensis Stonechat Saxicola rubicola 🦌 Mammals 3 species
spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Grey Squirrel · Hazel Dormouse · Common Shrew
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Common Shrew Sorex araneus 🐸 Amphibians 4 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Smooth Newt · Common Frog · Common Toad · Great Crested Newt
Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris Common Frog Rana temporaria Common Toad Bufo bufo Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus 🐝 Insects 18 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Neomyia viridescens · Azure Damselfly · Common Red Soldier Beetle · 22-spot Ladybird · Eriothrix rufomaculata +13
Neomyia viridescens Neomyia viridescens Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva 22-spot Ladybird Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata Eriothrix rufomaculata Eriothrix rufomaculata Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Xylota segnis Xylota segnis
Xylota segnis Xylota segnis
Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes
Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes
Marsh Snipefly Rhagio tringarius
Marsh Snipefly Rhagio tringarius
Nowickia ferox Nowickia ferox
Nowickia ferox Nowickia ferox
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Agrypnia varia Agrypnia varia
Agrypnia varia Agrypnia varia
Shore Sexton Beetle Necrodes littoralis
Shore Sexton Beetle Necrodes littoralis
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Tipula oleracea Tipula oleracea
Tipula oleracea Tipula oleracea
Scathophaga stercoraria Scathophaga stercoraria
Scathophaga stercoraria Scathophaga stercoraria
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major 