Great Chalk Wood ✦ Ancient woodland 20 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🍂 Seasonal
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 20 ha
Places › England › South East › South Oxfordshire Getting here
51.51744, -1.10501
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ ☀️ June — canopy now fully closed, creating cool dappled shade even on warm days 🐕 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
☀️ June — canopy now fully closed, creating cool dappled shade even on warm days 🐕 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 — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Robin +62 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Robin +62 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Pink-sorrel · last seen 2025
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Chalk and limestone grassland — chalkhill blue, adonis blue and rare moths; Insects — Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Gatekeeper +90 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 13 signed routes nearby · 7 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
The Ridgeway Walking route 140 km ▾
Named route Ref RW Length 140 km National walking route
Show on map The Chiltern Way Southern Extension Walking route ▾
Long distance path
Named route Ref CWS Regional walking route
Show on map The Roman Way Walking route 274.5 km ▾
Named route Length 274.5 km Regional walking route
Show on map European walking route E2 west, UK, South East England Walking route ▾
Westroute: Stranraer (UK) - Birminhgham (UK) - Calais (FR) - Zoersel (BE) / Eastroute: Stranraer (UK) - Harwich (UK) - Rotterdam (NL) - Zoersel (BE) / Both Routes: Zoersel (BE) - Maastrich (NL) - Luxembourg (LUX) - Lake Geneva (CH) - Nice (FR)
Named route Ref E2 International walking route
Show on map Woodland Walk, Basildon Park Walking route 2.4 km ▾
This route goes through the woodland and across our landscape parkland. Suitable for all terrain pushchairs. Potential for livestock on route.
Named route Length 2.4 km Duration 00:45 Round trip Local walking route
Show on map 4 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
National Cycle Network Route 5 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 5 National Cycle Network
Show on map Round Berkshire Cycle Route Cycling route ▾
Named route Regional cycle route
Show on map Chilterns Cycleway Cycling route ▾
Named route Round trip Regional cycle route
Show on map Main Route Cycling route 18.5 km ▾
Named route Ref 5 Length 18.5 km National Cycle Network On-road Surface asphalt
Show on map 2 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Judges' Ride Mountain bike route ▾
King Alfred's Way Mountain bike route ▾
King Alfreds Way is 350km (220 miles) off road route designed to be ridden clockwise. It starts & ends in Winchester. It is suitable for gravel or cross-country bikes.
Named route Regional cycle route
Show on map 17 public paths nearby
Public paths
Cold Harbour bridleway · 233 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 233 m Path type: bridleway
Show on map Council Lane bridleway · 713 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 713 m Surface unpaved Path type: bridleway
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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id: 519cae7b-a5e2-46c5-b71b-8206534bcbf6
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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Bookable tours Wildlife to spot
47,905 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 47,905 records · National Biodiversity Network Woodpigeon · Blackbird · Robin · Blackcap · Jackdaw +39
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Blackbird Turdus merula Robin Erithacus rubecula Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Rook Corvus frugilegus Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Carrion Crow Corvus corone Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Great Tit Parus major Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Whitethroat Curruca communis Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Magpie Pica pica Swift Apus apus Canada Goose Branta canadensis Goldcrest Regulus regulus Starling Sturnus vulgaris Swallow Hirundo rustica Jay Garrulus glandarius Garden Warbler Sylvia borin House Martin Delichon urbicum Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra Skylark Alauda arvensis Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Greenfinch Chloris chloris Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Coal Tit Periparus ater Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Nuthatch Sitta europaea Dunnock Prunella modularis Marsh Tit Poecile palustris Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii Stock Dove Columba oenas Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Linnet Linaria cannabina Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Muntjac · Grey Squirrel
Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Grass Snake
Grass Snake Natrix helvetica White-legged Damselfly · Banded Demoiselle · Rose Chafer · Orchid Beetle · Blue-tailed Damselfly +28
White-legged Damselfly Platycnemis pennipes Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens Rose Chafer Cetonia aurata Orchid Beetle Dascillus cervinus Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas Apple Fruit Rhynchites Pink-sorrel
Pink-sorrel Oxalis articulata Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 47,905 records · National Biodiversity Network Woodpigeon · Blackbird · Robin · Blackcap · Jackdaw +39
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Blackbird Turdus merula Robin Erithacus rubecula Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Rook Corvus frugilegus Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Carrion Crow Corvus corone Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Great Tit Parus major Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Whitethroat Curruca communis Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Magpie Pica pica Swift Apus apus Canada Goose Branta canadensis Goldcrest Regulus regulus Starling Sturnus vulgaris Swallow Hirundo rustica Jay Garrulus glandarius Garden Warbler Sylvia borin House Martin Delichon urbicum Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra Skylark Alauda arvensis Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Greenfinch Chloris chloris Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Coal Tit Periparus ater Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Nuthatch Sitta europaea Dunnock Prunella modularis Marsh Tit Poecile palustris Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii Stock Dove Columba oenas Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Linnet Linaria cannabina Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Muntjac · Grey Squirrel
Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Grass Snake
Grass Snake Natrix helvetica White-legged Damselfly · Banded Demoiselle · Rose Chafer · Orchid Beetle · Blue-tailed Damselfly +28
White-legged Damselfly Platycnemis pennipes Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens Rose Chafer Cetonia aurata Orchid Beetle Dascillus cervinus Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas Apple Fruit Rhynchites Pink-sorrel
Pink-sorrel Oxalis articulata Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Tatianaerhynchites aequatus
Tatianaerhynchites aequatus
Isomira murina Isomira murina
Isomira murina Isomira murina
Malachite Beetle Malachius bipustulatus
Malachite Beetle Malachius bipustulatus
Hayhurstia atriplicis Hayhurstia atriplicis
Hayhurstia atriplicis Hayhurstia atriplicis
Cuckoo-Spit Insect Philaenus spumarius
Cuckoo-Spit Insect Philaenus spumarius
Turrutus socialis Turrutus socialis
Turrutus socialis Turrutus socialis
Arthaldeus pascuellus Arthaldeus pascuellus
Arthaldeus pascuellus Arthaldeus pascuellus
Euscelis incisus Euscelis incisus
Euscelis incisus Euscelis incisus
Trachyphloeus alternans Trachyphloeus alternans
Trachyphloeus alternans Trachyphloeus alternans
Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum
Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum
Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus
Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella
Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo
Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo
Common Club-tail Gomphus vulgatissimus
Common Club-tail Gomphus vulgatissimus
Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata
Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata
Tree Hopper Centrotus cornutus
Tree Hopper Centrotus cornutus
Athous haemorrhoidalis Athous haemorrhoidalis
Athous haemorrhoidalis Athous haemorrhoidalis
Garden Chafer Phyllopertha horticola
Garden Chafer Phyllopertha horticola
Omaloplia ruricola Omaloplia ruricola
Omaloplia ruricola Omaloplia ruricola
Agrypnus murinus Agrypnus murinus
Agrypnus murinus Agrypnus murinus
Bastard-toadflax Bug Canthophorus impressus
Bastard-toadflax Bug Canthophorus impressus
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major
Thistle Tortoise Beetle Cassida rubiginosa
Thistle Tortoise Beetle Cassida rubiginosa
Polydrusus pterygomalis Polydrusus pterygomalis
Polydrusus pterygomalis Polydrusus pterygomalis
Dogs-Mercury Flea Beetle Hermaeophaga mercurialis
Dogs-Mercury Flea Beetle Hermaeophaga mercurialis 