← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Crank Wood

3 ha

📷 Anthony Parkes · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome3 ha

Getting here

53.49570, -2.57024

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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

8 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Redwing, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit +74 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Redwing, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit +74 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Blackthorn, Cleavers, Lesser Celandine +22 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Blackthorn, Cleavers, Lesser Celandine +22 more · last seen 2026

Free

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Foraging

Good match

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic; Plants — Blackthorn, Garlic Mustard, Hogweed +2 more foraging species

Varies

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Alder Leaf Beetle, 7-spot Ladybird, Zygina flammigera +2 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Alder Leaf Beetle, 7-spot Ladybird, Zygina flammigera +2 more · last seen 2026

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

2 signed routes nearby · 1 public path nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

GM Ringway Stage 16Walking route16.3 km

GM Ringway Stage 16 - Wigan to Leigh

Named routeLength 16.3 kmRegional walking route

GM Ringway Stage 17Walking route16.6 km

GM Ringway Stage 17 - Leigh to Irlam

Named routeLength 16.6 kmRegional walking route

🚴

Cycling

6 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 55Cycling route

Named routeRef 55National Cycle Network

Bridgewater WayCycling route

Named routeRef 82Regional cycle route

Main RouteCycling route45 m

Named routeRef 55Length 45 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface cobbles

Main RouteCycling route1 km

Named routeRef 55Length 1 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm

Main RouteCycling route203 m

Named routeRef 55Length 203 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route1.9 km

Named routeRef 55Length 1.9 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

80,152 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

80,152 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds79 species

autumnwinter

2026

Redwing · Long-tailed Tit · Great Tit · Black-headed Gull · Magpie +74

RedwingTurdus iliacus
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Great TitParus major
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
MagpiePica pica
BlackbirdTurdus merula
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
RobinErithacus rubecula
CootFulica atra
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Water RailRallus aquaticus2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus
RavenCorvus corax2025
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
NuthatchSitta europaea
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
JayGarrulus glandarius
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
SnipeGallinago gallinago2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
GadwallMareca strepera
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
LapwingVanellus vanellus
TealAnas crecca
BuzzardButeo buteo
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
Willow TitPoecile montanus2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2025
WoodcockScolopax rusticola2025
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
Green SandpiperTringa ochropus2025
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025

🦌

Mammals2 species

autumnwinter

2026

Grey Squirrel · Roe Deer

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2025

🐸

Amphibians1 species

winter

2026

Common Frog

Common FrogRana temporaria

🐝

Insects5 species

winter

2026

Alder Leaf Beetle · 7-spot Ladybird · Zygina flammigera · Ocys harpaloides/tachysoides · Large Willow Aphid

Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alni
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Zygina flammigeraZygina flammigera
Ocys harpaloides/tachysoidesOcys harpaloides/tachysoides
Large Willow AphidTuberolachnus (Tuberolachnus) salignus2025

🌿

Plants25 species

spring

2026

Blackthorn · Cleavers · Lesser Celandine · Meadow Buttercup · Marsh-marigold +20

BlackthornPrunus spinosa
CleaversGalium aparine
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris
Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris
Centaurea nigraCentaurea nigra
GroundselSenecio vulgaris
GorseUlex europaeus
Common VetchVicia sativa
Creeping-JennyLysimachia nummularia
Prunus cerasifera var. cerasiferaPrunus cerasifera var. cerasifera
Taxus baccata f. baccataTaxus baccata f. baccata
Common ReedPhragmites australis
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorus
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
Common NettleUrtica dioica
White Dead-nettleLamium album
Sweet VioletViola odorata
DaisyBellis perennis
Wavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosa
Smooth Sow-thistleSonchus oleraceus2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

80,152 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds79 species

autumnwinter

2026

Redwing · Long-tailed Tit · Great Tit · Black-headed Gull · Magpie +74

RedwingTurdus iliacus
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Great TitParus major
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
MagpiePica pica
BlackbirdTurdus merula
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
RobinErithacus rubecula
CootFulica atra
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Water RailRallus aquaticus2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus
RavenCorvus corax2025
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
NuthatchSitta europaea
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
JayGarrulus glandarius
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
SnipeGallinago gallinago2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
GadwallMareca strepera
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
LapwingVanellus vanellus
TealAnas crecca
BuzzardButeo buteo
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
Willow TitPoecile montanus2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2025
WoodcockScolopax rusticola2025
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
Green SandpiperTringa ochropus2025
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025

🦌

Mammals2 species

autumnwinter

2026

Grey Squirrel · Roe Deer

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2025

🐸

Amphibians1 species

winter

2026

Common Frog

Common FrogRana temporaria

🐝

Insects5 species

winter

2026

Alder Leaf Beetle · 7-spot Ladybird · Zygina flammigera · Ocys harpaloides/tachysoides · Large Willow Aphid

Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alni
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Zygina flammigeraZygina flammigera
Ocys harpaloides/tachysoidesOcys harpaloides/tachysoides
Large Willow AphidTuberolachnus (Tuberolachnus) salignus2025

🌿

Plants25 species

spring

2026

Blackthorn · Cleavers · Lesser Celandine · Meadow Buttercup · Marsh-marigold +20

BlackthornPrunus spinosa
CleaversGalium aparine
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris
Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris
Centaurea nigraCentaurea nigra
GroundselSenecio vulgaris
GorseUlex europaeus
Common VetchVicia sativa
Creeping-JennyLysimachia nummularia
Prunus cerasifera var. cerasiferaPrunus cerasifera var. cerasifera
Taxus baccata f. baccataTaxus baccata f. baccata
Common ReedPhragmites australis
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorus
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
Common NettleUrtica dioica
White Dead-nettleLamium album
Sweet VioletViola odorata
DaisyBellis perennis
Wavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosa
Smooth Sow-thistleSonchus oleraceus2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Anthony Parkes · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Public footpath near Crank Wood

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🏞️PENNINGTON FLASHCountry park1.9 km→🌱Pennington Flash County ParkUrban park1.9 km→🦉THREE SISTERS (WIGAN)Nature reserve4.1 km→🦉PENNINGTON FLASHNature reserve1.9 km→🌱Firs ParkUrban park2.3 km→🌱Golborne Park (The Bonk)Urban park2.4 km→

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