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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Fan Wood

✦ Ancient woodland9 ha

📷 Glyn Baker · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeForagingSeasonal
Free entryDogs welcome9 ha

Getting here

51.84776, 0.76530

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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
  • 🌿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

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat

Best for

8 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Foraging

Plants — Common Nettle, Bramble, Hawthorn +13 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Common Nettle, Bramble, Cleavers +86 more · last seen 2020

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Speckled Yellow, Small White Wave, Peacock +151 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Speckled Yellow, Small White Wave, Peacock +151 more · last seen 2025

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Blackbird, Great Tit, Mallard +46 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Blackbird, Great Tit, Mallard +46 more · last seen 2026

Free

Mushroom foraging

Fungi — Yarrowia, Punctelia reddenda · last seen 2019; Fungi — Yarrowia, Punctelia reddenda · last seen 2019

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

3 signed routes nearby · 3 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Paycocke's Tudor Coggeshall Walk, Paycocke's House and GardenWalking route4 km

Paths across fields may be muddy after wet weather, so we advise wearing suitable footwear. Take care when crossing roads especially where there's no footpath along The Gravel. Expect a very gradual uphill approach along Grange Hill and East Street.

Named routeLength 4 kmDuration 01:00Round tripLocal walking route
Essex Way (Epping to Stratford St Mary)Walking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Grange Barn and Paycocke's House Circular Walk, Grange BarnWalking route4.8 km

Grange Barn is one of Europe's oldest timber-framed buildings. Paths are muddy and boggy after wet weather, so boots may be necessary. Please note that the river bridge is braced by metal bars which you'll need to climb over, so take care when crossing.

Named routeLength 4.8 kmDuration 01:30Round tripLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

21 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
EuroVelo 2 - Capitals Route - part United Kingdom 8Cycling route
Named routeRef EV2International cycle route
NCN National Route 1Cycling route
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United KingdomCycling route
Named routeRef EV12International cycle route
Lexden RouteCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Main RouteCycling route5.6 km
Named routeRef 1Length 5.6 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route639 m
Named routeRef 1Length 639 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Farmland and Fan Wood

📷 Glyn Baker · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Farmland and Fan Wood

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🐄Colchester ZooVisitor farm4.8 km→🌱Marks Tey Recreational GroundsUrban park3.4 km→🌱Grove Road Playing FieldUrban park3.9 km→✦LAYER MARNEY TOWERHistoric site3.6 km→🌱Bridge MeadowUrban park4.1 km→⛪St Luke's ChurchReligious grounds4.2 km→

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