Blackley Forest - Broadleaved woodland
4 ha
Plan your visit
🦉Wildlife🦅Birds🌿Foraging
Free entryDogs welcome4 ha
Getting here
53.51761, -2.22600
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
Deciduous woodland priority habitat
Free
🦅Bird watching
Strong match
Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
🌲Forest walks
Moderate match
Public woodland
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km11 signed routes nearby · 2 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Cheshire Ring Canal WalkWalking route▾
Medlock Valley WayWalking route▾
Irwell Sculpture TrailWalking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
Irwell Sculpture Trail (spur)Walking route▾
Rochdale WayWalking route▾
Named routeRef RochRegional walking route
162 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Route 60Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 60National Cycle Network
Broughton CyclewayCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Chadderton Coal and Mineral Yard branch cyclewayCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Route 86Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 86Local cycle route
Irwell River ParkCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Ashton Canal CyclewayCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
Philips Park Figure 8 trailMountain bike route▾
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
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id: d006db45-5975-4a81-9fc7-ffc08ff21a9a
Wildlife to spot
4,588 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot
4,588 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds28 species
springsummerwinter
2026▾
Willow Tit · Rock Dove · Woodpigeon · Magpie · Lesser Black-backed Gull +23
- Willow TitPoecile montanus2025
- Rock DoveColumba livia2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- MagpiePica pica2025
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
- JayGarrulus glandarius2024
- Mute SwanCygnus olor2024
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
- NuthatchSitta europaea2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- DunnockPrunella modularis2025
- CootFulica atra2025
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2024
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
🦌Mammals1 species
summerwinter
2025▾
Grey Squirrel
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
🦎Reptiles2 species
springsummer
2025▾
European Pond Terrapin · Pond Terrapin
- European Pond TerrapinEmys orbicularis
- Pond TerrapinTrachemys scripta
🐸Amphibians1 species
summer
2025▾
Common Frog
- Common FrogRana temporaria
🐝Insects16 species
summerautumn
2025▾
Red-tailed Bumblebee · 7-spot Ladybird · Harlequin Ladybird · Red-legged Shieldbug · Common Blue Damselfly +11
- Red-tailed BumblebeeBombus lapidarius
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2024
- Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum
- Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina
🌿Plants47 species
springsummer
2025▾
Creeping Buttercup · Herb-Robert · Oxeye Daisy · Cornflower · Red Campion +42
- Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
- Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
- Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare
- CornflowerCentaurea cyanus
- Red CampionSilene dioica
- White PoplarPopulus alba
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
4,588 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds28 species
springsummerwinter
2026▾
Willow Tit · Rock Dove · Woodpigeon · Magpie · Lesser Black-backed Gull +23
- Willow TitPoecile montanus2025
- Rock DoveColumba livia2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- MagpiePica pica2025
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
- JayGarrulus glandarius2024
- Mute SwanCygnus olor2024
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
- NuthatchSitta europaea2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- DunnockPrunella modularis2025
- CootFulica atra2025
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2024
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
🦌Mammals1 species
summerwinter
2025▾
Grey Squirrel
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
🦎Reptiles2 species
springsummer
2025▾
European Pond Terrapin · Pond Terrapin
- European Pond TerrapinEmys orbicularis
- Pond TerrapinTrachemys scripta
🐸Amphibians1 species
summer
2025▾
Common Frog
- Common FrogRana temporaria
🐝Insects16 species
summerautumn
2025▾
Red-tailed Bumblebee · 7-spot Ladybird · Harlequin Ladybird · Red-legged Shieldbug · Common Blue Damselfly +11
- Red-tailed BumblebeeBombus lapidarius
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2024
- Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum
- Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina
🌿Plants47 species
springsummer
2025▾
Creeping Buttercup · Herb-Robert · Oxeye Daisy · Cornflower · Red Campion +42
- Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
- Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
- Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare
- CornflowerCentaurea cyanus
- Red CampionSilene dioica
- White PoplarPopulus alba
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulusEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxEristalis tenax14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctataWestern Honey BeeApis melliferaWestern Honey BeeApis melliferaAgathomyia wankowicziiAgathomyia wankowiczii2024Agathomyia wankowicziiAgathomyia wankowiczii2024Rhododendron LeafhopperGraphocephala fennahi2024Rhododendron LeafhopperGraphocephala fennahi2024Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2024Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2024Trioza remotaTrioza remota2024Trioza remotaTrioza remota2024Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2024Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2024Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2024Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2024Hornbeam
Hornbeam
Carpinus betulus
Carpinus betulus
Pedunculate OakQuercus roburPedunculate OakQuercus roburCommon PoppyPapaver rhoeasCommon PoppyPapaver rhoeasMexican AsterCosmos bipinnatusMexican AsterCosmos bipinnatusBlack MedickMedicago lupulinaBlack MedickMedicago lupulinaFalse OxlipPrimula veris x vulgaris = P. x polyanthaFalse OxlipPrimula veris x vulgaris = P. x polyanthaRusty WillowSalix cinerea subsp. oleifoliaRusty WillowSalix cinerea subsp. oleifoliaSmooth TareErvum tetraspermumSmooth TareErvum tetraspermumHairy TareErvilia hirsutaHairy TareErvilia hirsutaTurkey OakQuercus cerrisTurkey OakQuercus cerrisLesser Swine-cressLepidium didymumLesser Swine-cressLepidium didymumCat's-earHypochaeris radicataCat's-earHypochaeris radicataBush VetchVicia sepiumBush VetchVicia sepiumEnchanter's-nightshadeCircaea lutetianaEnchanter's-nightshadeCircaea lutetianaYellow LoosestrifeLysimachia vulgarisYellow LoosestrifeLysimachia vulgarisMarsh CudweedGnaphalium uliginosumMarsh CudweedGnaphalium uliginosumSilver BirchBetula pendulaSilver BirchBetula pendulaBroad-leaved HelleborineEpipactis helleborineBroad-leaved HelleborineEpipactis helleborineOnionAllium cepaOnionAllium cepaRed CloverTrifolium pratenseRed CloverTrifolium pratenseCommon VetchVicia sativaCommon VetchVicia sativaCreeping ThistleCirsium arvenseCreeping ThistleCirsium arvenseCommon ToadflaxLinaria vulgarisCommon ToadflaxLinaria vulgarisSouthern Marsh-orchidDactylorhiza praetermissaSouthern Marsh-orchidDactylorhiza praetermissaHogweedHeracleum sphondyliumHogweedHeracleum sphondyliumRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataColumbineAquilegia vulgarisColumbineAquilegia vulgarisOpposite-leaved Golden-saxifrageChrysosplenium oppositifoliumOpposite-leaved Golden-saxifrageChrysosplenium oppositifoliumSpotted-laurelAucuba japonicaSpotted-laurelAucuba japonicaItalian Lords-and-LadiesArum italicumItalian Lords-and-LadiesArum italicumGreater PeriwinkleVinca majorGreater PeriwinkleVinca majorEarly CrocusCrocus tommasinianusEarly CrocusCrocus tommasinianusWater-violetHottonia palustris2024Water-violetHottonia palustris2024AshFraxinus excelsior2024AshFraxinus excelsior2024DaisyBellis perennis2024DaisyBellis perennis2024Common Field-speedwellVeronica persica2024Common Field-speedwellVeronica persica2024Thyme-leaved SpeedwellVeronica serpyllifolia2024Thyme-leaved SpeedwellVeronica serpyllifolia2024DandelionTaraxacum2024DandelionTaraxacum2024Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris2024Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris2024YarrowAchillea millefolium2024YarrowAchillea millefolium2024Polypodium vulgarePolypodium vulgare2024Polypodium vulgarePolypodium vulgare2024Events & activities nearby
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