← Back🌾 Open woodland

Bolton Arena

2 ha

📷 Kevin Waterhouse · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome2 ha

Getting here

53.58078, -2.54339

Open directionsv

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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
🅿️Horwich Parkway Station Parking 70m away — 20 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
🅿️Horwich Parkway Station Parking 70m away — 20 car parks within reach

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Parking

Best for

7 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Black-headed Gull +56 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Black-headed Gull +56 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Bog Moss, Welsh Poppy, Tufted Vetch +33 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Bog Moss, Welsh Poppy, Tufted Vetch +33 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Black Darter, Common Darter, Emerald Damselfly +27 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Black Darter, Common Darter, Emerald Damselfly +27 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Good match

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic; Plants — Garlic Mustard, Elder, Guelder-rose

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Rotary WayWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

GM Ringway Stage 14Walking route21.9 km

GM Ringway Stage 14 - Bromley Cross to Blackrod

Named routeLength 21.9 kmRegional walking route

GM Ringway Stage 15Walking route16.2 km

GM Ringway Stage 15 - Blackrod to Wigan

Named routeLength 16.2 kmRegional walking route

Wigan WayWalking route

Named route

Adlington Circular WalkWalking route

Named route

🚴

Cycling

44 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Regional Route 80Cycling route

Named routeRegional cycle route

Lancashire Cycleway (Southern Loop)Cycling route

Named routeRef 91Regional cycle route

Route 55Cycling route

Named routeRef 55National Cycle Network

Greater Manchester Route 80Cycling route

Named routeRef 80Regional cycle route

N/ACycling route382 m

Named routeRef 80Length 382 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

N/ACycling route1.5 km

Named routeRef 80Length 1.5 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

9,896 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

9,896 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds62 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2026

Woodpigeon · Carrion Crow · Black-headed Gull · Magpie · Jackdaw +57

WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
MagpiePica pica2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
LapwingVanellus vanellus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Great TitParus major2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
Willow TitPoecile montanus2024
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
WhitethroatCurruca communis2024
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
SwiftApus apus2024
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
Buteo buteo buteoButeo buteo buteo2023
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2023
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2022
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2024
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2024
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2023
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2024
NuthatchSitta europaea2024
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
Garden WarblerSylvia borin2023
RavenCorvus corax2023
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2023
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2022
Stock DoveColumba oenas2022
House MartinDelichon urbicum2022
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2022
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2022
CurlewNumenius arquata2022
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2022

🦌

Mammals10 species

wintersummer

2025

Mole · Common Pipistrelle · Roe Deer · Hedgehog · Grey Squirrel +5

MoleTalpa europaea
Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2022
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2023
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Brown RatRattus norvegicus
Brown HareLepus europaeus2024
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2023
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2023
Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2022

🐸

Amphibians1 species

spring

2023

Common Frog

Common FrogRana temporaria

🐝

Insects30 species

summerautumn

2025

Black Darter · Common Darter · Emerald Damselfly · 7-spot Ladybird · Migrant Hawker +25

Black DarterSympetrum danae
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum
Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Migrant HawkerAeshna mixta2024
Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata2023
Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea
Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata
Polydrusus formosusPolydrusus formosus2024
Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2022
Common HawkerAeshna juncea2021
Norfolk AeshnaAeshna isoceles
Varied Carpet BeetleAnthrenus verbasci2024
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2023
Vine WeevilOtiorhynchus sulcatus2023
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2023
Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2023
Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2023
Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata2023
Ashy Mining BeeAndrena cineraria2023
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2023
Limnephilus auriculaLimnephilus auricula2023
Limnephilus rhombicusLimnephilus rhombicus2022
Blue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans2022
Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2022
Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alni2022
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2022
Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2022
Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2021

🌿

Plants36 species

spring

2025

Bog Moss · Welsh Poppy · Tufted Vetch · Cuckooflower · Garlic Mustard +31

Bog MossSphagnum2024
Welsh PoppyPapaver cambricum
Tufted VetchVicia cracca
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
ElderSambucus nigra2024
Norway MapleAcer platanoides2023
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium2022
RedshankPersicaria maculosa
Guelder-roseViburnum opulus
Red BartsiaOdontites vernus
Giant HogweedHeracleum mantegazzianum
TurnipBrassica rapa
WoodruffGalium odoratum
Ivy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralis
Maidenhair SpleenwortAsplenium trichomanes
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
Wavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosa
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
DaisyBellis perennis
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
HonestyLunaria annua
Red CloverTrifolium pratense2024
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2024
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea2024
Horse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanum2024
Mexican OrangeChoisya ternata2024
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2023
Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica2023
Wall CotoneasterCotoneaster horizontalis2023
Ragged-RobinSilene flos-cuculi2023
Red CampionSilene dioica2023
Hemp-agrimonyEupatorium cannabinum2023
Italian Lords-and-LadiesArum italicum2022
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata2022

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

9,896 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds62 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2026

Woodpigeon · Carrion Crow · Black-headed Gull · Magpie · Jackdaw +57

WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
MagpiePica pica2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
LapwingVanellus vanellus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Great TitParus major2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
Willow TitPoecile montanus2024
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
WhitethroatCurruca communis2024
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
SwiftApus apus2024
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
Buteo buteo buteoButeo buteo buteo2023
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2023
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2022
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2024
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2024
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2023
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2024
NuthatchSitta europaea2024
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
Garden WarblerSylvia borin2023
RavenCorvus corax2023
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2023
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2022
Stock DoveColumba oenas2022
House MartinDelichon urbicum2022
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2022
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2022
CurlewNumenius arquata2022
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2022

🦌

Mammals10 species

wintersummer

2025

Mole · Common Pipistrelle · Roe Deer · Hedgehog · Grey Squirrel +5

MoleTalpa europaea
Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2022
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2023
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Brown RatRattus norvegicus
Brown HareLepus europaeus2024
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2023
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2023
Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2022

🐸

Amphibians1 species

spring

2023

Common Frog

Common FrogRana temporaria

🐝

Insects30 species

summerautumn

2025

Black Darter · Common Darter · Emerald Damselfly · 7-spot Ladybird · Migrant Hawker +25

Black DarterSympetrum danae
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum
Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Migrant HawkerAeshna mixta2024
Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata2023
Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea
Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata
Polydrusus formosusPolydrusus formosus2024
Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2022
Common HawkerAeshna juncea2021
Norfolk AeshnaAeshna isoceles
Varied Carpet BeetleAnthrenus verbasci2024
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2023
Vine WeevilOtiorhynchus sulcatus2023
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2023
Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2023
Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2023
Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata2023
Ashy Mining BeeAndrena cineraria2023
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2023
Limnephilus auriculaLimnephilus auricula2023
Limnephilus rhombicusLimnephilus rhombicus2022
Blue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans2022
Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2022
Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alni2022
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2022
Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2022
Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2021

🌿

Plants36 species

spring

2025

Bog Moss · Welsh Poppy · Tufted Vetch · Cuckooflower · Garlic Mustard +31

Bog MossSphagnum2024
Welsh PoppyPapaver cambricum
Tufted VetchVicia cracca
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
ElderSambucus nigra2024
Norway MapleAcer platanoides2023
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium2022
RedshankPersicaria maculosa
Guelder-roseViburnum opulus
Red BartsiaOdontites vernus
Giant HogweedHeracleum mantegazzianum
TurnipBrassica rapa
WoodruffGalium odoratum
Ivy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralis
Maidenhair SpleenwortAsplenium trichomanes
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
Wavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosa
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
DaisyBellis perennis
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
HonestyLunaria annua
Red CloverTrifolium pratense2024
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2024
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea2024
Horse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanum2024
Mexican OrangeChoisya ternata2024
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2023
Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica2023
Wall CotoneasterCotoneaster horizontalis2023
Ragged-RobinSilene flos-cuculi2023
Red CampionSilene dioica2023
Hemp-agrimonyEupatorium cannabinum2023
Italian Lords-and-LadiesArum italicum2022
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata2022

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Kevin Waterhouse · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Blocked public footpath

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Old Station ParkUrban park1.9 km→🌱Haigh Woodland ParkUrban park4.3 km→🏞️LEVER PARKCountry park4.3 km→✦LEVER PARKHistoric site4.3 km→🌱Rivington PinetumUrban park4.8 km→🌱Old Station ParkUrban park1.9 km→

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