← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Freehay Wood

✦ Ancient woodland3 ha

WildlifeBirdsForaging

Free entryDogs welcome3 ha

Getting here

52.96817, -1.97941

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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

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞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

7 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Blue Tit, Robin, Woodpigeon +63 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Blue Tit, Robin, Woodpigeon +63 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Strong match

Plants — Common Nettle, White Dead-nettle, Hogweed +11 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Cow Parsley, Common Nettle, Lesser Celandine +73 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Cow Parsley, Common Nettle, Lesser Celandine +73 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Face Fly, Field Grasshopper, Stenophylax permistus +21 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Face Fly, Field Grasshopper, Stenophylax permistus +21 more · last seen 2026

Free

Heritage

Good match

Ancient woodland — historic landscape

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

4 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Weaver WalkWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

Churnet WayWalking route

Named route

Stone Circles ChallengeWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

Staffordshire Way (Rushton Spencer - Cannock Chase)Walking route76 km

Staffordshire Way, part Rushton Spencer - Cannock Chase

Named routeLength 76 kmRegional walking route

🚴

Cycling

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Churnet Valley CyclewayCycling route

Named routeLocal cycle route

Wildlife to spot

3,984 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

3,984 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds70 species

winterspringsummer

2026

Blue Tit · Robin · Woodpigeon · Great Tit · Blackbird +65

Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Great TitParus major
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
MagpiePica pica
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
JackdawColoeus monedula
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
DunnockPrunella modularis2024
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
GadwallMareca strepera2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2024
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
TealAnas crecca2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
CootFulica atra2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2024
SwiftApus apus2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
ShelduckTadorna tadorna2025
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2023
Red KiteMilvus milvus2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
Garden WarblerSylvia borin2024
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2024
RookCorvus frugilegus2023
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2023
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2023
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
Mandarin DuckAix galericulata2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2025
WhitethroatCurruca communis2024
Mute SwanCygnus olor2023
RavenCorvus corax2023
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri2023
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2023
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2023
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2022
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2022
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2022
Stock DoveColumba oenas2022

🦌

Mammals20 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2026

Hedgehog · Mole · Rabbit · Grey Squirrel · Otter +15

HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2023
MoleTalpa europaea2025
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2025
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
OtterLutra lutra2024
Pipistrelle Bat speciesPipistrellus
BatChiroptera2023
Bank VoleMyodes glareolus2025
PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2022
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2021
Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris2025
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2024
MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi2024
Harvest MouseMicromys minutus2023
Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2021
Field VoleMicrotus agrestis2024
Water VoleArvicola amphibius2024
Brown RatRattus norvegicus2023
BadgerMeles meles2022
Feral CatFelis catus2021

🐸

Amphibians2 species

spring

2025

Smooth Newt · Great Crested Newt

Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris
Great Crested NewtTriturus cristatus

🐟

Fish1 species

spring

2025

Grayling

GraylingThymallus thymallus

🐝

Insects24 species

spring

2026

Face Fly · Field Grasshopper · Stenophylax permistus · Vine Weevil · Hawthorn Shieldbug +19

Face FlyMusca autumnalis2025
Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus2023
Stenophylax permistusStenophylax permistus
Vine WeevilOtiorhynchus sulcatus
Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2025
Cicadella viridisCicadella viridis2025
Dock BugCoreus marginatus2025
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2025
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2025
22-spot LadybirdPsyllobora vigintiduopunctata2025
BaetisBaetis2025
caddisfliesTrichoptera2025
Batman HoverflyMyathropa florea2025
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus2025
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2025
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2025
MidgeCulicoides2025
Black Sexton BeetleNicrophorus humator2025
Halesus digitatusHalesus digitatus2024
Limnephilus lunatusLimnephilus lunatus2024
SyrphusSyrphus2024
Rosemary BeetleChrysolina americana2024
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2023
Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2022

🌿

Plants78 species

spring

2026

Cow Parsley · Common Nettle · Lesser Celandine · Holly · Himalayan Balsam +73

Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2025
Common NettleUrtica dioica2025
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
HollyIlex aquifolium
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2025
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2025
Wood AvensGeum urbanum2025
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2025
DaisyBellis perennis2025
White Dead-nettleLamium album2025
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus2025
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2025
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata2025
Ivy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralis2025
Green AlkanetPentaglottis sempervirens2025
CleaversGalium aparine2025
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea2025
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium2025
GroundselSenecio vulgaris2025
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys2025
IvyHedera helix2025
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Shining Crane's-billGeranium lucidum2025
AshFraxinus excelsior2025
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium2025
BroomCytisus scoparius2025
Rock Crane's-billGeranium macrorrhizum2025
TutsanHypericum androsaemum2025
Red CampionSilene dioica2025
ElderSambucus nigra2025
AlderAlnus glutinosa2025
Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidii2025
BeechFagus sylvatica2025
Bush VetchVicia sepium2025
Smooth Sow-thistleSonchus oleraceus2025
White CloverTrifolium repens2025
Greater PlantainPlantago major2025
Welsh PoppyPapaver cambricum2025
Pink PurslaneClaytonia sibirica2025
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta2025
RaspberryRubus idaeus2025
ColumbineAquilegia vulgaris2025
Meadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensis2025
RamsonsAllium ursinum
Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris2025
Goat WillowSalix caprea2025
RowanSorbus aucuparia2025
YarrowAchillea millefolium2025
Field HorsetailEquisetum arvense2025
Broad-leaved Everlasting-peaLathyrus latifolius2025
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2025
Lamb's-earStachys byzantina2025
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris2025
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2025
Lady's BedstrawGalium verum2025
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata2025
Red CloverTrifolium pratense2025
Common Spotted-orchidDactylorhiza fuchsii2025
KerriaKerria japonica2025
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria2025
Flowering CurrantRibes sanguineum2025
Yellow CorydalisPseudofumaria lutea2025
Mexican FleabaneErigeron karvinskianus2025
Fox-and-cubsPilosella aurantiaca2025
Norway MapleAcer platanoides2025
Wood Forget-me-notMyosotis sylvatica2025
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana2025
HazelCorylus avellana2025
NipplewortLapsana communis2025
AubretiaAubrieta deltoidea2025
Wayfaring-treeViburnum lantana2025
Red Dead-nettleLamium purpureum2025
Ground-ivyGlechoma hederacea2025
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris2025
BugleAjuga reptans2025
Hidcote ComfreySymphytum x hidcotense 'Hidcote Blue'2024
Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum2021

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

3,984 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds70 species

winterspringsummer

2026

Blue Tit · Robin · Woodpigeon · Great Tit · Blackbird +65

Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Great TitParus major
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
MagpiePica pica
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
JackdawColoeus monedula
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
DunnockPrunella modularis2024
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
GadwallMareca strepera2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2024
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
TealAnas crecca2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
CootFulica atra2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2024
SwiftApus apus2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2025
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
ShelduckTadorna tadorna2025
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2023
Red KiteMilvus milvus2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
Garden WarblerSylvia borin2024
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2024
RookCorvus frugilegus2023
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2023
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2023
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
Mandarin DuckAix galericulata2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2025
WhitethroatCurruca communis2024
Mute SwanCygnus olor2023
RavenCorvus corax2023
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri2023
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2023
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2023
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2022
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2022
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2022
Stock DoveColumba oenas2022

🦌

Mammals20 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2026

Hedgehog · Mole · Rabbit · Grey Squirrel · Otter +15

HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2023
MoleTalpa europaea2025
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2025
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
OtterLutra lutra2024
Pipistrelle Bat speciesPipistrellus
BatChiroptera2023
Bank VoleMyodes glareolus2025
PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2022
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2021
Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris2025
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2024
MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi2024
Harvest MouseMicromys minutus2023
Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2021
Field VoleMicrotus agrestis2024
Water VoleArvicola amphibius2024
Brown RatRattus norvegicus2023
BadgerMeles meles2022
Feral CatFelis catus2021

🐸

Amphibians2 species

spring

2025

Smooth Newt · Great Crested Newt

Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris
Great Crested NewtTriturus cristatus

🐟

Fish1 species

spring

2025

Grayling

GraylingThymallus thymallus

🐝

Insects24 species

spring

2026

Face Fly · Field Grasshopper · Stenophylax permistus · Vine Weevil · Hawthorn Shieldbug +19

Face FlyMusca autumnalis2025
Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus2023
Stenophylax permistusStenophylax permistus
Vine WeevilOtiorhynchus sulcatus
Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2025
Cicadella viridisCicadella viridis2025
Dock BugCoreus marginatus2025
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2025
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2025
22-spot LadybirdPsyllobora vigintiduopunctata2025
BaetisBaetis2025
caddisfliesTrichoptera2025
Batman HoverflyMyathropa florea2025
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus2025
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2025
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2025
MidgeCulicoides2025
Black Sexton BeetleNicrophorus humator2025
Halesus digitatusHalesus digitatus2024
Limnephilus lunatusLimnephilus lunatus2024
SyrphusSyrphus2024
Rosemary BeetleChrysolina americana2024
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2023
Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2022

🌿

Plants78 species

spring

2026

Cow Parsley · Common Nettle · Lesser Celandine · Holly · Himalayan Balsam +73

Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2025
Common NettleUrtica dioica2025
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
HollyIlex aquifolium
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2025
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2025
Wood AvensGeum urbanum2025
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2025
DaisyBellis perennis2025
White Dead-nettleLamium album2025
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus2025
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2025
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata2025
Ivy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralis2025
Green AlkanetPentaglottis sempervirens2025
CleaversGalium aparine2025
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea2025
Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium2025
GroundselSenecio vulgaris2025
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys2025
IvyHedera helix2025
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Shining Crane's-billGeranium lucidum2025
AshFraxinus excelsior2025
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium2025
BroomCytisus scoparius2025
Rock Crane's-billGeranium macrorrhizum2025
TutsanHypericum androsaemum2025
Red CampionSilene dioica2025
ElderSambucus nigra2025
AlderAlnus glutinosa2025
Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidii2025
BeechFagus sylvatica2025
Bush VetchVicia sepium2025
Smooth Sow-thistleSonchus oleraceus2025
White CloverTrifolium repens2025
Greater PlantainPlantago major2025
Welsh PoppyPapaver cambricum2025
Pink PurslaneClaytonia sibirica2025
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta2025
RaspberryRubus idaeus2025
ColumbineAquilegia vulgaris2025
Meadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensis2025
RamsonsAllium ursinum
Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris2025
Goat WillowSalix caprea2025
RowanSorbus aucuparia2025
YarrowAchillea millefolium2025
Field HorsetailEquisetum arvense2025
Broad-leaved Everlasting-peaLathyrus latifolius2025
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2025
Lamb's-earStachys byzantina2025
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris2025
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2025
Lady's BedstrawGalium verum2025
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata2025
Red CloverTrifolium pratense2025
Common Spotted-orchidDactylorhiza fuchsii2025
KerriaKerria japonica2025
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria2025
Flowering CurrantRibes sanguineum2025
Yellow CorydalisPseudofumaria lutea2025
Mexican FleabaneErigeron karvinskianus2025
Fox-and-cubsPilosella aurantiaca2025
Norway MapleAcer platanoides2025
Wood Forget-me-notMyosotis sylvatica2025
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana2025
HazelCorylus avellana2025
NipplewortLapsana communis2025
AubretiaAubrieta deltoidea2025
Wayfaring-treeViburnum lantana2025
Red Dead-nettleLamium purpureum2025
Ground-ivyGlechoma hederacea2025
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris2025
BugleAjuga reptans2025
Hidcote ComfreySymphytum x hidcotense 'Hidcote Blue'2024
Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum2021

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Graham Hogg · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

The Pipits, Freehay

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Nearby places

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🌱Wentlows Playing FieldsUrban park1.2 km→🌱Tean Road RecUrban park1.6 km→🌱Tean Recreation GroundUrban park1.8 km→🦉CECILLY BROOKNature reserve1.9 km→🌱Wedgwood Open SpaceUrban park1.7 km→🌱Arundel Playing FieldUrban park2 km→

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