Car Dyke, Roman canal at Helpringham
2 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds✦Heritage🦉Wildlife
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome2 ha
Getting here
52.93675, -0.29593
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦55+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Blackbird and Dunnock
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦55+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Blackbird and Dunnock
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕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
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Blackbird, Dunnock, Great Tit +52 more · last seen 2025
Free
Historic site with public access
Free
Birds — Blackbird, Dunnock, Great Tit +52 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Small White, Ringlet, Meadow Brown +31 more · last seen 2019
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
🏡Historic gardens
Good match
Historic site with public access
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km2 public paths nearby
Public paths
South Drovepublic footpath · 3.6 km▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 3.6 kmPath type: unclassified
1 signed route nearby
Route 15Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 15National Cycle Network
Photos
Barn on South Drove, Helpringham Fen
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Wildlife to spot
1,849 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
1,849 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds35 species
winterspringautumn
2025▾
Jackdaw · Woodpigeon · Blackbird · Carrion Crow · Chaffinch +30
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- MagpiePica pica
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2024
- Barn OwlTyto alba2018
- SwiftApus apus
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- RobinErithacus rubecula2024
- Great TitParus major2024
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
- RookCorvus frugilegus2024
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2023
- Little OwlAthene noctua2020
- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- House MartinDelichon urbicum
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- WhitethroatCurruca communis
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2024
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2024
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus2023
- Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2023
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2023
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2023
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2023
🦌Mammals3 species
summerautumn
2024▾
Fallow Deer · Hedgehog · Brown Long-eared Bat
- Fallow DeerDama dama
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2019
- Brown Long-eared BatPlecotus auritus2018
Grass Snake
- Grass SnakeNatrix helvetica
🐝Insects16 species
springsummer
2019▾
Small White · Green-veined White · Small Tortoiseshell · Meadow Brown · Ringlet +11
- Small WhitePieris rapae
- Green-veined WhitePieris napi
- Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae
- Meadow BrownManiola jurtina
- RingletAphantopus hyperantus
- Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta
Bristly Oxtongue · Apple · Bramble · Chicory · Perennial Sow-thistle +80
- Bristly OxtongueHelminthotheca echioides
- AppleMalus domestica
- BrambleRubus fruticosus
- ChicoryCichorium intybus
- Perennial Sow-thistleSonchus arvensis
- Scentless MayweedTripleurospermum inodorum
- Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
1,849 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds35 species
winterspringautumn
2025▾
Jackdaw · Woodpigeon · Blackbird · Carrion Crow · Chaffinch +30
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- MagpiePica pica
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2024
- Barn OwlTyto alba2018
- SwiftApus apus
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- RobinErithacus rubecula2024
- Great TitParus major2024
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
- RookCorvus frugilegus2024
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2023
- Little OwlAthene noctua2020
- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- House MartinDelichon urbicum
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- WhitethroatCurruca communis
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2024
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2024
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus2023
- Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2023
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2023
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2023
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2023
🦌Mammals3 species
summerautumn
2024▾
Fallow Deer · Hedgehog · Brown Long-eared Bat
- Fallow DeerDama dama
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2019
- Brown Long-eared BatPlecotus auritus2018
Grass Snake
- Grass SnakeNatrix helvetica
🐝Insects16 species
springsummer
2019▾
Small White · Green-veined White · Small Tortoiseshell · Meadow Brown · Ringlet +11
- Small WhitePieris rapae
- Green-veined WhitePieris napi
- Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae
- Meadow BrownManiola jurtina
- RingletAphantopus hyperantus
- Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta
Bristly Oxtongue · Apple · Bramble · Chicory · Perennial Sow-thistle +80
- Bristly OxtongueHelminthotheca echioides
- AppleMalus domestica
- BrambleRubus fruticosus
- ChicoryCichorium intybus
- Perennial Sow-thistleSonchus arvensis
- Scentless MayweedTripleurospermum inodorum
- Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Holly Blue
Holly Blue
Celastrina argiolus
Celastrina argiolus
Speckled WoodPararge aegeriaSpeckled WoodPararge aegeriaCommaPolygonia c-albumCommaPolygonia c-albumPeacockAglais ioPeacockAglais ioPainted LadyVanessa carduiPainted LadyVanessa carduiCommon BluePolyommatus icarusCommon BluePolyommatus icarusGatekeeperPyronia tithonusGatekeeperPyronia tithonusLarge SkipperOchlodes sylvanusLarge SkipperOchlodes sylvanusCuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumariusCuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumariusOrange-tipAnthocharis cardaminesOrange-tipAnthocharis cardaminesIvyHedera helixIvyHedera helixBlackthornPrunus spinosaBlackthornPrunus spinosaPerennial Rye-grassLolium perennePerennial Rye-grassLolium perenneCharlockSinapis arvensisCharlockSinapis arvensisPedunculate OakQuercus roburPedunculate OakQuercus roburWild TeaselDipsacus fullonumWild TeaselDipsacus fullonumHedge MustardSisymbrium officinaleHedge MustardSisymbrium officinaleShort-fruited WillowherbEpilobium obscurumShort-fruited WillowherbEpilobium obscurumCommon NettleUrtica dioicaCommon NettleUrtica dioicaShepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastorisShepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastorisHogweedHeracleum sphondyliumHogweedHeracleum sphondyliumGreat WillowherbEpilobium hirsutumGreat WillowherbEpilobium hirsutumCreeping ThistleCirsium arvenseCreeping ThistleCirsium arvenseWild PlumPrunus domesticaWild PlumPrunus domesticaGreater BurdockArctium lappaGreater BurdockArctium lappaCommon CouchElymus repensCommon CouchElymus repensBroad-leaved DockRumex obtusifoliusBroad-leaved DockRumex obtusifoliusDandelionTaraxacumDandelionTaraxacumTimothyPhleum pratenseTimothyPhleum pratensePrickly Sow-thistleSonchus asperPrickly Sow-thistleSonchus asperDaisyBellis perennisDaisyBellis perennisGreat HorsetailEquisetum telmateiaGreat HorsetailEquisetum telmateiaCow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestrisCow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestrisCock's-footDactylis glomerataCock's-footDactylis glomerataCommon PoppyPapaver rhoeasCommon PoppyPapaver rhoeasCleaversGalium aparineCleaversGalium aparineField Penny-cressThlaspi arvenseField Penny-cressThlaspi arvenseAutumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalisAutumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalisField MapleAcer campestreField MapleAcer campestreDove's-foot Crane's-billGeranium molleDove's-foot Crane's-billGeranium molleWhite Dead-nettleLamium albumWhite Dead-nettleLamium albumRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataMugwortArtemisia vulgarisMugwortArtemisia vulgarisCommon RagwortJacobaea vulgarisCommon RagwortJacobaea vulgarisField Forget-me-notMyosotis arvensisField Forget-me-notMyosotis arvensisCreeping BentAgrostis stoloniferaCreeping BentAgrostis stoloniferaGreat LettuceLactuca virosaGreat LettuceLactuca virosaWood DockRumex sanguineusWood DockRumex sanguineusRosa caninaRosa caninaRosa caninaRosa caninaLimeTilia cordata x platyphyllos = T. x europaeaLimeTilia cordata x platyphyllos = T. x europaeaSolanum nigrum subsp. nigrumSolanum nigrum subsp. nigrumSolanum nigrum subsp. nigrumSolanum nigrum subsp. nigrumAmphibious BistortPersicaria amphibiaAmphibious BistortPersicaria amphibiaCreeping ButtercupRanunculus repensCreeping ButtercupRanunculus repensSmooth Meadow-grassPoa pratensisSmooth Meadow-grassPoa pratensisHerb-RobertGeranium robertianumHerb-RobertGeranium robertianumSpear ThistleCirsium vulgareSpear ThistleCirsium vulgareHemlockConium maculatumHemlockConium maculatumRough Meadow-grassPoa trivialisRough Meadow-grassPoa trivialisYarrowAchillea millefoliumYarrowAchillea millefoliumGroundselSenecio vulgarisGroundselSenecio vulgarisReed Canary-grassPhalaris arundinaceaReed Canary-grassPhalaris arundinaceaLesser TrefoilTrifolium dubiumLesser TrefoilTrifolium dubiumCommon KnapweedCentaurea nigraCommon KnapweedCentaurea nigraElderSambucus nigraElderSambucus nigraWhite CampionSilene latifoliaWhite CampionSilene latifoliaNipplewortLapsana communisNipplewortLapsana communisSnowberrySymphoricarpos albusSnowberrySymphoricarpos albusMeadow BarleyHordeum secalinumMeadow BarleyHordeum secalinumHawthornCrataegus monogynaHawthornCrataegus monogynaCreeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptansCreeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptansWhite CloverTrifolium repensWhite CloverTrifolium repensTall FescueSchedonorus arundinaceusTall FescueSchedonorus arundinaceusHedge WoundwortStachys sylvaticaHedge WoundwortStachys sylvaticaSmooth Sow-thistleSonchus oleraceusSmooth Sow-thistleSonchus oleraceusCommon MallowMalva sylvestrisCommon MallowMalva sylvestrisSycamoreAcer pseudoplatanusSycamoreAcer pseudoplatanusFat-henChenopodium albumFat-henChenopodium albumKnotgrassPolygonum aviculareKnotgrassPolygonum aviculareFalse Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatiusFalse Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatiusHorse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanumHorse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanumGreater PlantainPlantago majorGreater PlantainPlantago majorHoneysuckleLonicera periclymenumHoneysuckleLonicera periclymenumHopHumulus lupulusHopHumulus lupulusField BindweedConvolvulus arvensisField BindweedConvolvulus arvensisReed Sweet-grassGlyceria maximaReed Sweet-grassGlyceria maximaAshFraxinus excelsiorAshFraxinus excelsiorLarge BindweedCalystegia silvaticaLarge BindweedCalystegia silvaticaCommon ComfreySymphytum officinaleCommon ComfreySymphytum officinale