Cook's Wood ✦ Ancient woodland 14 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🦋 Insects
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 14 ha
Places › England › Eastern › Colchester Getting here
51.85011, 0.83950
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 📍 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 £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🌿 Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Mallard +88 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Mallard +88 more · last seen 2026
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Lowland meadows — marbled white, meadow brown and pollinating insects; Insects — Stag Beetle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Banded Demoiselle +57 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour
Free
Named cycling route nearby: NCN National Route 1
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 10 signed routes nearby · 3 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
Colchester Orbital West B Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Colchester Orbital West A Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Colchester Orbital Spoke (North) Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Colchester Orbital Spoke (West) Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Colchester Orbital Spoke (South) Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Birch 38 public footpath · 169 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 169 m Path type: footway
Show on map 92 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
NCN 51 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 51 National Cycle Network
Show on map EuroVelo 2 - Capitals Route - part United Kingdom 8 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref EV2 International cycle route
Show on map Colchester Orbital Cycle Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Garrison Route Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map NCN National Route 1 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 1 National Cycle Network
Show on map Colchester Orbital Cycle Spoke (Centre) Cycling route ▾
Named route Round trip Local cycle route
Show on map 11 public paths nearby
Public paths
Leas Lane bridleway · 631 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 631 m Surface ground Path type: bridleway
Show on map Birch 35 bridleway · 258 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 258 m Path type: track
Show on map Leas Lane bridleway · 9 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 9 m Path type: track
Show on map Leas Lane bridleway · 262 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 262 m Path type: track
Show on map Leas Lane bridleway · 61 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 61 m Path type: track
Show on map ✦ Ancient woodland — continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD. A rare and irreplaceable habitat, rich in biodiversity and historical character.
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
All Historic
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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
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Wildlife to spot
10,473 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 10,473 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 57 species
spring winter
2026 ▾
Jackdaw · Woodpigeon · Robin · Moorhen · Blackbird +52
Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Blackbird Turdus merula Mute Swan Cygnus olor Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Magpie Pica pica2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Rook Corvus frugilegus2025 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2025 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus2025 Gadwall Mareca strepera2025 Stock Dove Columba oenas2025 Great Tit Parus major House Sparrow Passer domesticus2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2025 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus2025 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2025 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Swallow Hirundo rustica2025 Coot Fulica atra2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Common Gull Larus canus2025 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris2025 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus2025 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus2025 Teal Anas crecca2025 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Snipe Gallinago gallinago2025 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus2025 Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius2025 Green Woodpecker Picus viridis2025 House Martin Delichon urbicum2025 Swift Apus apus2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii2025 Whitethroat Curruca communis2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2025 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus2025 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti2025 Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus2025 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula2025 Slow-worm
🐸 Amphibians 2 species
spring summer autumn
2026 ▾
Smooth Newt · Common Toad
Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris Common Toad Bufo bufo2025 🐝 Insects 23 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Stag Beetle · 7-spot Ladybird · Eristalis pertinax · Speckled Bush-cricket · Lesser Stag Beetle +18
Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax Speckled Bush-cricket Leptophyes punctatissima Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus Cantharis rustica Cantharis rustica Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 10,473 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 57 species
spring winter
2026 ▾
Jackdaw · Woodpigeon · Robin · Moorhen · Blackbird +52
Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Blackbird Turdus merula Mute Swan Cygnus olor Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Magpie Pica pica2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Rook Corvus frugilegus2025 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2025 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus2025 Gadwall Mareca strepera2025 Stock Dove Columba oenas2025 Great Tit Parus major House Sparrow Passer domesticus2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2025 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus2025 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2025 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Swallow Hirundo rustica2025 Coot Fulica atra2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Common Gull Larus canus2025 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris2025 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus2025 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus2025 Teal Anas crecca2025 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Snipe Gallinago gallinago2025 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus2025 Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius2025 Green Woodpecker Picus viridis2025 House Martin Delichon urbicum2025 Swift Apus apus2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii2025 Whitethroat Curruca communis2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2025 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus2025 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti2025 Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus2025 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula2025 Slow-worm
🐸 Amphibians 2 species
spring summer autumn
2026 ▾
Smooth Newt · Common Toad
Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris Common Toad Bufo bufo2025 🐝 Insects 23 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Stag Beetle · 7-spot Ladybird · Eristalis pertinax · Speckled Bush-cricket · Lesser Stag Beetle +18
Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax Speckled Bush-cricket Leptophyes punctatissima Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus Cantharis rustica Cantharis rustica Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Water Scorpion Nepa cinerea
Water Scorpion Nepa cinerea
Water Measurer Hydrometra stagnorum
Water Measurer Hydrometra stagnorum
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum
Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum
Indet. Ladybird Coccinellidae
Indet. Ladybird Coccinellidae
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
Sphaerophoria scripta Sphaerophoria scripta
Sphaerophoria scripta Sphaerophoria scripta
Corizus hyoscyami Corizus hyoscyami
Corizus hyoscyami Corizus hyoscyami
Chrysotoxum bicinctum Chrysotoxum bicinctum
Chrysotoxum bicinctum Chrysotoxum bicinctum
Eupeodes luniger Eupeodes luniger
Eupeodes luniger Eupeodes luniger
Volucella pellucens Volucella pellucens
Volucella pellucens Volucella pellucens
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens
Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator
Willow Gall Weevil Archarius salicivorus
Willow Gall Weevil Archarius salicivorus
Eristalis tenax Eristalis tenax
Eristalis tenax Eristalis tenax
Glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca
Glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca 