Blackthorn Wood ✦ Ancient woodland 12 ha
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🍂 Seasonal
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Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 12 ha
Places › England › Eastern › Welwyn Hatfield Getting here
51.79255, -0.16760
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 🅿️ Moneyhole Lane 67m away — 18 car parks within reach 🌤️ 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 🅿️ Moneyhole Lane 67m away — 18 car parks within reach £ 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 — Starling, Goldfinch, Blue Tit +74 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Starling, Goldfinch, Blue Tit +74 more · last seen 2026
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Bladder Campion, Black Nightshade, Scentless Mayweed +66 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Harlequin Ladybird, Eupeodes luniger, Syrphus +33 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Harlequin Ladybird, Eupeodes luniger, Syrphus +33 more · last seen 2025
Free
Named cycling route nearby: Route 61
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 8 signed routes nearby · 4 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
Old Railway & River Lea Walking route 7.9 km ▾
After a brief visit to the remains of Wheathampstead railway station, the walk follows the Ayot Greenway (route of the Permanent Way) to Ayot Green. The return journey follows the course of the River Lea.
Named route Length 7.9 km Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Lea Valley Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Point-to-point Regional walking route
Show on map Hertfordshire Way Walking route 267 km ▾
Long distance path
Named route Length 267 km Regional walking route
Show on map Hertfordshire Chain Walk Walking route ▾
Not waymarked
Named route Regional walking route
Show on map WGC100 Centenary Walk Walking route 20.2 km ▾
Created for Welwyn Garden City's 100th anniversary, a circular walk around the whole town
Named route Length 20.2 km Round trip Local walking route
Show on map 94 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
NCN12 proposed rerouting Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 12 National Cycle Network
Show on map Ayot Greenway Cycling route ▾
Route 12 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 12 National Cycle Network
Show on map Route 61 Cycling route 34 km ▾
Route 61 travels from Maidenhead to Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and Hertford before arriving near Hoddesdon.
Named route Ref 61 Length 34 km National Cycle Network
Show on map NCN National Route 57 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 57 National Cycle Network
Show on map Main Route Cycling route 52 m ▾
Named route Ref 12 Length 52 m National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface asphalt
Show on map 5 public paths nearby
Public paths
Green Lane bridleway · 11 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 11 m Surface asphalt Path type: cycleway
Show on map Cole Green Way bridleway · 1.3 km ▾
Public path bridleway Length 1.3 km Surface asphalt Path type: cycleway
Show on map Green Lane bridleway · 465 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 465 m Surface concrete Path type: bridleway
Show on map ✦ Ancient woodland — continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD. A rare and irreplaceable habitat, rich in biodiversity and historical character.
Photos Green Lane bridleway through Rolls Wood
‹ ›
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
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id: f01bb66f-03a9-46f5-9b28-b1ffb5571548
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
28,845 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 28,845 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 45 species
summer autumn winter
2026 ▾
Carrion Crow · Woodpigeon · Robin · Magpie · Moorhen +40
Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Magpie Pica pica2025 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2025 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Coot Fulica atra2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Swift Apus apus2025 Redwing Turdus iliacus Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Mute Swan Cygnus olor2025 Gadwall Mareca strepera2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius House Sparrow Passer domesticus2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2025 Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Stonechat Saxicola rubicola2025 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus2025 Little Egret Egretta garzetta2025 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2025 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella2025 Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca2025 Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Whitethroat Curruca communis2025 Stock Dove Columba oenas2025 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti2025 Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus2025 Swallow Hirundo rustica2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Harlequin Ladybird · Eupeodes luniger · Syrphus · 7-spot Ladybird · Western Honey Bee +13
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis Eupeodes luniger Eupeodes luniger Syrphus Syrphus 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella 🌿 Plants 41 species
summer autumn
2025 ▾
Bladder Campion · Wild Carrot · Common Toadflax · Goat's-beard · Black Nightshade +36
Bladder Campion Silene vulgaris Wild Carrot Daucus carota Common Toadflax Linaria vulgaris Goat's-beard Tragopogon pratensis Black Nightshade Solanum nigrum Cornflower Centaurea cyanus Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 28,845 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 45 species
summer autumn winter
2026 ▾
Carrion Crow · Woodpigeon · Robin · Magpie · Moorhen +40
Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Magpie Pica pica2025 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2025 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Coot Fulica atra2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Swift Apus apus2025 Redwing Turdus iliacus Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Mute Swan Cygnus olor2025 Gadwall Mareca strepera2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius House Sparrow Passer domesticus2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2025 Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Stonechat Saxicola rubicola2025 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus2025 Little Egret Egretta garzetta2025 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2025 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella2025 Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca2025 Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Whitethroat Curruca communis2025 Stock Dove Columba oenas2025 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti2025 Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus2025 Swallow Hirundo rustica2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Harlequin Ladybird · Eupeodes luniger · Syrphus · 7-spot Ladybird · Western Honey Bee +13
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis Eupeodes luniger Eupeodes luniger Syrphus Syrphus 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella 🌿 Plants 41 species
summer autumn
2025 ▾
Bladder Campion · Wild Carrot · Common Toadflax · Goat's-beard · Black Nightshade +36
Bladder Campion Silene vulgaris Wild Carrot Daucus carota Common Toadflax Linaria vulgaris Goat's-beard Tragopogon pratensis Black Nightshade Solanum nigrum Cornflower Centaurea cyanus Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea
Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
Sphaerophoria Sphaerophoria
Sphaerophoria Sphaerophoria
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Cuckoo-Spit Insect Philaenus spumarius
Cuckoo-Spit Insect Philaenus spumarius
Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus
Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus
Oxythyrea funesta Oxythyrea funesta
Oxythyrea funesta Oxythyrea funesta
Graphomya maculata Graphomya maculata
Graphomya maculata Graphomya maculata
Greater Bulb-Fly Merodon equestris
Greater Bulb-Fly Merodon equestris
Dimorphic Strider Macrophya montana
Dimorphic Strider Macrophya montana Redshank
Redshank
Persicaria maculosa
Persicaria maculosa
Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas
Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas
Scentless Mayweed Tripleurospermum inodorum
Scentless Mayweed Tripleurospermum inodorum
Groundsel Senecio vulgaris
Groundsel Senecio vulgaris
Scarlet Pimpernel Lysimachia arvensis
Scarlet Pimpernel Lysimachia arvensis
Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum
Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum
Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica
Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica
Lady's Bedstraw Galium verum
Lady's Bedstraw Galium verum
Knotgrass Polygonum aviculare
Knotgrass Polygonum aviculare
Field Pansy Viola arvensis
Field Pansy Viola arvensis
Field Madder Sherardia arvensis
Field Madder Sherardia arvensis
Henbane Hyoscyamus niger
Henbane Hyoscyamus niger
Small-flowered Crane's-bill Geranium pusillum
Small-flowered Crane's-bill Geranium pusillum
Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper
Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper
Fat-hen Chenopodium album
Fat-hen Chenopodium album
Black-bindweed Fallopia convolvulus
Black-bindweed Fallopia convolvulus
Wild-oat Avena fatua
Wild-oat Avena fatua
Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa
Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa
Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum
Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum
Chicory Cichorium intybus
Chicory Cichorium intybus
Wall-rue Asplenium ruta-muraria
Wall-rue Asplenium ruta-muraria
Lesser Sea-spurrey Spergularia marina
Lesser Sea-spurrey Spergularia marina
Yellow Oat-grass Trisetum flavescens
Yellow Oat-grass Trisetum flavescens
Field Scabious Knautia arvensis
Field Scabious Knautia arvensis
Perforate St John's-wort Hypericum perforatum
Perforate St John's-wort Hypericum perforatum
Common Restharrow Ononis repens
Common Restharrow Ononis repens
Small Toadflax Chaenorhinum minus
Small Toadflax Chaenorhinum minus
Horse-radish Armoracia rusticana
Horse-radish Armoracia rusticana
Dark Mullein Verbascum nigrum
Dark Mullein Verbascum nigrum
Musk-mallow Malva moschata
Musk-mallow Malva moschata
Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria
Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria
White Campion Silene latifolia
White Campion Silene latifolia
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Grass Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia
Grass Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia
Aspen Populus tremula
Aspen Populus tremula Events & activities nearby Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
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