← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Choles Wood

4 ha

WildlifeBirdsInsects

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome4 ha

Getting here

51.35278, 0.34634

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
📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required

🌤️ 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
📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

6 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Magpie +66 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Magpie +66 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Setaceous Hebrew Character, Willow Beauty, Heart & Dart +131 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Setaceous Hebrew Character, Willow Beauty, Heart & Dart +131 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Foraging

Good match

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Forest walks

Good match

Public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

6 signed routes nearby · 3 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

Oftord to Canterbury CathedralWalking route

follows North Downs Way from Otford to Broughton Lees

Named routeRegional walking route

Main Trail, Cobham Mausoleum & WoodsWalking route1.8 km

Named routeLength 1.8 kmDuration 00:45Point-to-pointLocal walking route

North Downs Way (Eastern)Walking route

Named routeNational walking route

1066 Harold's WayWalking route

Named routeRegional walking route

WealdwayWalking route

Named routeRegional walking route

🐴

Horse riding

2 public paths nearby

Public paths

Ifield Roadbyway open to all traffic · 922 m

Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 922 mPath type: track

Ifield Roadbyway open to all traffic · 190 m

Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 190 mPath type: track

Wildlife to spot

7,299 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

7,299 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds75 species

spring

2025

Woodpigeon · Blackbird · Magpie · Carrion Crow · Goldfinch +70

WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
MagpiePica pica
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
JackdawColoeus monedula
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Red KiteMilvus milvus
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
RavenCorvus corax
DunnockPrunella modularis
House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
GreenfinchChloris chloris
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2023
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
HobbyFalco subbuteo2024
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
PeregrineFalco peregrinus2024
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Great TitParus major
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
NuthatchSitta europaea2024
WhitethroatCurruca communis2020
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2024
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2024
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2019
RookCorvus frugilegus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla2024
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2024
BuzzardButeo buteo2024
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2019
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
Barn OwlTyto alba2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2023
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2023
WoodcockScolopax rusticola2023
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2023
RedwingTurdus iliacus2023
OspreyPandion haliaetus
Milvus milvus milvusMilvus milvus milvus
SwallowHirundo rustica
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
JayGarrulus glandarius
Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestiva
Mute SwanCygnus olor2024
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2024
Greylag GooseAnser anser2024
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2024
SiskinSpinus spinus2024
CootFulica atra2024
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2024
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2024
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2023
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri2023
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2023
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrix2023
Marsh TitPoecile palustris2023
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus2023
Stock DoveColumba oenas2023
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor2022
Falco peregrinus peregrinusFalco peregrinus peregrinus2022
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2021
Coal TitPeriparus ater2020
SwiftApus apus2019

🦌

Mammals6 species

spring

2025

Hedgehog · Hazel Dormouse · Red Fox · Brown Rat · Grey Squirrel +1

HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2022
Hazel DormouseMuscardinus avellanarius
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2021
Brown RatRattus norvegicus2021
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2021
Bank VoleMyodes glareolus2020

🦎

Reptiles1 species

summer

2019

Adder

AdderVipera berus

🐝

Insects134 species

summerautumn

2025

Setaceous Hebrew Character · Willow Beauty · Heart & Dart · Large Yellow Underwing · Lunar Underwing +129

Setaceous Hebrew CharacterXestia c-nigrum2019
Willow BeautyPeribatodes rhomboidaria2019
Heart & DartAgrotis exclamationis2019
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronuba2019
Lunar UnderwingAnchoscelis lunosa2019
Lesser Yellow UnderwingNoctua comes2019
Common SwiftKorscheltellus lupulina2019
Square-spot RusticXestia xanthographa2019
Riband WaveIdaea aversata2019
Vine's RusticHoplodrina ambigua2019
White-pointMythimna albipuncta2019
Heart & ClubAgrotis clavis2019
Treble LinesCharanyca trigrammica2019
Flounced RusticLuperina testacea2019
Least CarpetIdaea rusticata2019
Common WainscotMythimna pallens2019
Dwarf Cream WaveIdaea fuscovenosa2019
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow UnderwingNoctua janthe2019
Uncertain/RusticHoplodrina octogenaria/blanda2019
Small WhitePieris rapae2019
Beaded ChestnutAgrochola lychnidis2019
Yellow ShellCamptogramma bilineata2019
Straw UnderwingThalpophila matura2019
Common FootmanEilema lurideola2019
Mottled RusticCaradrina morpheus2019
Broad-bordered Yellow UnderwingNoctua fimbriata2019
Autumnal RusticEugnorisma glareosa2019
SnoutHypena proboscidalis2019
Garden CarpetXanthorhoe fluctuata2019
Straw DotRivula sericealis2019
Small Waved UmberHorisme vitalbata2019
Marbled Minor agg.Oligia strigilis agg.2019
Common Marbled CarpetDysstroma truncata2019
Burnished BrassDiachrysia chrysitis2019
Common Rustic agg.Mesapamea secalis agg.2019
Treble-barAplocera plagiata2019
Light EmeraldCampaea margaritaria2019
Single-dotted WaveIdaea dimidiata2019
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2019
FernHorisme tersata2019
Glow-wormLampyris noctiluca
Dusky ThornEnnomos fuscantaria2019
Centre-barred SallowAtethmia centrago2019
BrimstoneGonepteryx rhamni2019
Large WhitePieris brassicae2019
Silver YAutographa gamma2019
Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalis2021
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2020
DelicateMythimna vitellina2019
Pale Mottled WillowCaradrina clavipalpis2019
Black RusticAporophyla nigra2019
Common CarpetEpirrhoe alternata2019
Jersey TigerEuplagia quadripunctaria2019
Flame ShoulderOchropleura plecta2019
Shuttle-shaped DartAgrotis puta2019
Mouse MothAmphipyra tragopoginis2019
PeacockAglais io2019
Scalloped OakCrocallis elinguaria2019
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2019
Barred StrawGandaritis pyraliata2019
UncertainHoplodrina octogenaria2019
Middle-barred MinorOligia fasciuncula2019
Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2019
Green-brindled CrescentAllophyes oxyacanthae2019
Deep-brown DartAporophyla lueneburgensis2019
Feathered GothicTholera decimalis2019
Brimstone MothOpisthograptis luteolata2019
Cabbage MothMamestra brassicae2019
Green CarpetColostygia pectinataria2019
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2019
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2019
Double-square SpotXestia triangulum2019
Smoky WainscotMythimna impura2019
Scorched CarpetLigdia adustata2019
ShearsHada plebeja2019
Box BugGonocerus acuteangulatus2022
Hornet HoverflyVolucella zonaria2021
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2021
Migrant HawkerAeshna mixta2020
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2020
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2020
Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2020
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2020
Early BumblebeeBombus pratorum2020
Red-tailed BumblebeeBombus lapidarius2020
Small Garden BumblebeeBombus hortorum2020
November Moth agg.Epirrita dilutata agg.2019
Barred SallowTiliacea aurago2019
MallowLarentia clavaria2019
Brown-Spot PinionAnchoscelis litura2019
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2019
Blood-veinTimandra comae2019
Copper UnderwingAmphipyra pyramidea2019
Oak Hook-tipWatsonalla binaria2019
Lime-speck PugEupithecia centaureata2019
Dun-barCosmia trapezina2019
Rosy FootmanMiltochrista miniata2019
Orange SwiftTriodia sylvina2019
Dusky Hook-tipDrepana curvatula2019
Pebble Hook-tipDrepana falcataria2019
Dingy FootmanEilema griseola2019
Small ScallopIdaea emarginata2019
Dark UmberPhilereme transversata2019
Marbled BeautyBryophila domestica2019
Kent Black ArchesMeganola albula2019
Ruby TigerPhragmatobia fuliginosa2019
Small CopperLycaena phlaeas2019
CommaPolygonia c-album2019
Pretty Chalk CarpetMelanthia procellata2019
FestoonApoda limacodes2019
Rosemary BeetleChrysolina americana2019
Elephant Hawk-mothDeilephila elpenor2019
Buff-tipPhalera bucephala2019
RingletAphantopus hyperantus2019
Common BluePolyommatus icarus2019
Treble Brown SpotIdaea trigeminata2019
Small Blood-veinScopula imitaria2019
Swallow-tailed MothOurapteryx sambucaria2019
Short-cloaked MothNola cucullatella2019
Eyed Hawk-mothSmerinthus ocellata2019
FlameAxylia putris2019
Common EmeraldHemithea aestivaria2019
Pale Oak BeautyHypomecis punctinalis2019
Clouded SilverLomographa temerata2019
Wasp BeetleClytus arietis2019
Common Rose FusehornArge pagana2019
Rustic Shoulder-knotApamea sordens2019
Satin WaveIdaea subsericeata2019
Red-green CarpetChloroclysta siterata2019
Pale TussockCalliteara pudibunda2019
Small Elephant Hawk-mothDeilephila porcellus2019
Orange FootmanEilema sororcula2019
Athous haemorrhoidalisAthous haemorrhoidalis2019
Red-headed Cardinal BeetlePyrochroa serraticornis2019

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

7,299 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds75 species

spring

2025

Woodpigeon · Blackbird · Magpie · Carrion Crow · Goldfinch +70

WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
MagpiePica pica
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
JackdawColoeus monedula
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Red KiteMilvus milvus
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
RavenCorvus corax
DunnockPrunella modularis
House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
GreenfinchChloris chloris
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2023
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
HobbyFalco subbuteo2024
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
PeregrineFalco peregrinus2024
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Great TitParus major
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
NuthatchSitta europaea2024
WhitethroatCurruca communis2020
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2024
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2024
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2019
RookCorvus frugilegus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla2024
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2024
BuzzardButeo buteo2024
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2019
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
Barn OwlTyto alba2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2023
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2023
WoodcockScolopax rusticola2023
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2023
RedwingTurdus iliacus2023
OspreyPandion haliaetus
Milvus milvus milvusMilvus milvus milvus
SwallowHirundo rustica
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
JayGarrulus glandarius
Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestiva
Mute SwanCygnus olor2024
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2024
Greylag GooseAnser anser2024
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2024
SiskinSpinus spinus2024
CootFulica atra2024
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2024
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2024
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2023
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri2023
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2023
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrix2023
Marsh TitPoecile palustris2023
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus2023
Stock DoveColumba oenas2023
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor2022
Falco peregrinus peregrinusFalco peregrinus peregrinus2022
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2021
Coal TitPeriparus ater2020
SwiftApus apus2019

🦌

Mammals6 species

spring

2025

Hedgehog · Hazel Dormouse · Red Fox · Brown Rat · Grey Squirrel +1

HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2022
Hazel DormouseMuscardinus avellanarius
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2021
Brown RatRattus norvegicus2021
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2021
Bank VoleMyodes glareolus2020

🦎

Reptiles1 species

summer

2019

Adder

AdderVipera berus

🐝

Insects134 species

summerautumn

2025

Setaceous Hebrew Character · Willow Beauty · Heart & Dart · Large Yellow Underwing · Lunar Underwing +129

Setaceous Hebrew CharacterXestia c-nigrum2019
Willow BeautyPeribatodes rhomboidaria2019
Heart & DartAgrotis exclamationis2019
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronuba2019
Lunar UnderwingAnchoscelis lunosa2019
Lesser Yellow UnderwingNoctua comes2019
Common SwiftKorscheltellus lupulina2019
Square-spot RusticXestia xanthographa2019
Riband WaveIdaea aversata2019
Vine's RusticHoplodrina ambigua2019
White-pointMythimna albipuncta2019
Heart & ClubAgrotis clavis2019
Treble LinesCharanyca trigrammica2019
Flounced RusticLuperina testacea2019
Least CarpetIdaea rusticata2019
Common WainscotMythimna pallens2019
Dwarf Cream WaveIdaea fuscovenosa2019
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow UnderwingNoctua janthe2019
Uncertain/RusticHoplodrina octogenaria/blanda2019
Small WhitePieris rapae2019
Beaded ChestnutAgrochola lychnidis2019
Yellow ShellCamptogramma bilineata2019
Straw UnderwingThalpophila matura2019
Common FootmanEilema lurideola2019
Mottled RusticCaradrina morpheus2019
Broad-bordered Yellow UnderwingNoctua fimbriata2019
Autumnal RusticEugnorisma glareosa2019
SnoutHypena proboscidalis2019
Garden CarpetXanthorhoe fluctuata2019
Straw DotRivula sericealis2019
Small Waved UmberHorisme vitalbata2019
Marbled Minor agg.Oligia strigilis agg.2019
Common Marbled CarpetDysstroma truncata2019
Burnished BrassDiachrysia chrysitis2019
Common Rustic agg.Mesapamea secalis agg.2019
Treble-barAplocera plagiata2019
Light EmeraldCampaea margaritaria2019
Single-dotted WaveIdaea dimidiata2019
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2019
FernHorisme tersata2019
Glow-wormLampyris noctiluca
Dusky ThornEnnomos fuscantaria2019
Centre-barred SallowAtethmia centrago2019
BrimstoneGonepteryx rhamni2019
Large WhitePieris brassicae2019
Silver YAutographa gamma2019
Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalis2021
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2020
DelicateMythimna vitellina2019
Pale Mottled WillowCaradrina clavipalpis2019
Black RusticAporophyla nigra2019
Common CarpetEpirrhoe alternata2019
Jersey TigerEuplagia quadripunctaria2019
Flame ShoulderOchropleura plecta2019
Shuttle-shaped DartAgrotis puta2019
Mouse MothAmphipyra tragopoginis2019
PeacockAglais io2019
Scalloped OakCrocallis elinguaria2019
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2019
Barred StrawGandaritis pyraliata2019
UncertainHoplodrina octogenaria2019
Middle-barred MinorOligia fasciuncula2019
Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2019
Green-brindled CrescentAllophyes oxyacanthae2019
Deep-brown DartAporophyla lueneburgensis2019
Feathered GothicTholera decimalis2019
Brimstone MothOpisthograptis luteolata2019
Cabbage MothMamestra brassicae2019
Green CarpetColostygia pectinataria2019
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2019
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2019
Double-square SpotXestia triangulum2019
Smoky WainscotMythimna impura2019
Scorched CarpetLigdia adustata2019
ShearsHada plebeja2019
Box BugGonocerus acuteangulatus2022
Hornet HoverflyVolucella zonaria2021
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2021
Migrant HawkerAeshna mixta2020
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2020
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2020
Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2020
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2020
Early BumblebeeBombus pratorum2020
Red-tailed BumblebeeBombus lapidarius2020
Small Garden BumblebeeBombus hortorum2020
November Moth agg.Epirrita dilutata agg.2019
Barred SallowTiliacea aurago2019
MallowLarentia clavaria2019
Brown-Spot PinionAnchoscelis litura2019
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2019
Blood-veinTimandra comae2019
Copper UnderwingAmphipyra pyramidea2019
Oak Hook-tipWatsonalla binaria2019
Lime-speck PugEupithecia centaureata2019
Dun-barCosmia trapezina2019
Rosy FootmanMiltochrista miniata2019
Orange SwiftTriodia sylvina2019
Dusky Hook-tipDrepana curvatula2019
Pebble Hook-tipDrepana falcataria2019
Dingy FootmanEilema griseola2019
Small ScallopIdaea emarginata2019
Dark UmberPhilereme transversata2019
Marbled BeautyBryophila domestica2019
Kent Black ArchesMeganola albula2019
Ruby TigerPhragmatobia fuliginosa2019
Small CopperLycaena phlaeas2019
CommaPolygonia c-album2019
Pretty Chalk CarpetMelanthia procellata2019
FestoonApoda limacodes2019
Rosemary BeetleChrysolina americana2019
Elephant Hawk-mothDeilephila elpenor2019
Buff-tipPhalera bucephala2019
RingletAphantopus hyperantus2019
Common BluePolyommatus icarus2019
Treble Brown SpotIdaea trigeminata2019
Small Blood-veinScopula imitaria2019
Swallow-tailed MothOurapteryx sambucaria2019
Short-cloaked MothNola cucullatella2019
Eyed Hawk-mothSmerinthus ocellata2019
FlameAxylia putris2019
Common EmeraldHemithea aestivaria2019
Pale Oak BeautyHypomecis punctinalis2019
Clouded SilverLomographa temerata2019
Wasp BeetleClytus arietis2019
Common Rose FusehornArge pagana2019
Rustic Shoulder-knotApamea sordens2019
Satin WaveIdaea subsericeata2019
Red-green CarpetChloroclysta siterata2019
Pale TussockCalliteara pudibunda2019
Small Elephant Hawk-mothDeilephila porcellus2019
Orange FootmanEilema sororcula2019
Athous haemorrhoidalisAthous haemorrhoidalis2019
Red-headed Cardinal BeetlePyrochroa serraticornis2019

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Choles Wood

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