Hanging Wood ✦ Ancient woodland 19 ha
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🦋 Insects
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Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 19 ha
Places › England › Eastern › Colchester Getting here
51.86443, 0.82111
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, Robin, Woodpigeon +85 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Jackdaw, Robin, Woodpigeon +85 more · last seen 2026
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Stag Beetle, Water Scorpion, 7-spot Ladybird +48 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Stag Beetle, Water Scorpion, 7-spot Ladybird +48 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 8 signed routes nearby · 17 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 (West) Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Margery Allingham Walk Walking route 9.5 km ▾
Named route Length 9.5 km Local walking route
Show on map Colne Valley Path Walking route 37 km ▾
Named route Length 37 km Local walking route
Show on map Copford 14 public footpath · 308 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 308 m Path type: footway
Show on map Birch 5 public footpath · 627 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 627 m Path type: footway
Show on map Copford 14 public footpath · 344 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 344 m Path type: service
Show on map 62 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
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 Route 13 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 13 National Cycle Network
Show on map Colchester Orbital Cycle Spoke (West) Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map ✦ Ancient woodland — continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD. A rare and irreplaceable habitat, rich in biodiversity and historical character.
Photos Footpath to Fountain Lane
‹ ›
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
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id: ee107685-ee70-4c86-9b06-a4e946f7e7b2
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
Wildlife to spot
6,251 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 6,251 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 53 species
spring summer autumn winter
2026 ▾
Jackdaw · Robin · Magpie · Woodpigeon · Blackbird +48
Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Robin Erithacus rubecula Magpie Pica pica2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Blackbird Turdus merula Great Tit Parus major Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2025 Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 House Sparrow Passer domesticus2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Swallow Hirundo rustica2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Rook Corvus frugilegus2025 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Stock Dove Columba oenas2025 Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Goldcrest Regulus regulus2025 Mute Swan Cygnus olor Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2025 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Skylark Alauda arvensis2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2025 Common Gull Larus canus2025 Siskin Spinus spinus2025 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus2025 Snipe Gallinago gallinago2025 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Periparus ater britannicus Periparus ater britannicus2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata2025 Swift Apus apus2025 Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2025 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus2025 Whitethroat Curruca communis2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius2025 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2025 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 ▾
7-spot Ladybird · Speckled Bush-cricket · Stag Beetle · Lesser Stag Beetle · Cantharis rustica +18
7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata Speckled Bush-cricket Leptophyes punctatissima Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus Cantharis rustica Cantharis rustica Water Scorpion Nepa cinerea Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 6,251 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 53 species
spring summer autumn winter
2026 ▾
Jackdaw · Robin · Magpie · Woodpigeon · Blackbird +48
Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Robin Erithacus rubecula Magpie Pica pica2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Blackbird Turdus merula Great Tit Parus major Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2025 Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 House Sparrow Passer domesticus2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Swallow Hirundo rustica2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Rook Corvus frugilegus2025 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Stock Dove Columba oenas2025 Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Goldcrest Regulus regulus2025 Mute Swan Cygnus olor Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2025 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Skylark Alauda arvensis2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2025 Common Gull Larus canus2025 Siskin Spinus spinus2025 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus2025 Snipe Gallinago gallinago2025 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Periparus ater britannicus Periparus ater britannicus2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata2025 Swift Apus apus2025 Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2025 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus2025 Whitethroat Curruca communis2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius2025 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2025 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 ▾
7-spot Ladybird · Speckled Bush-cricket · Stag Beetle · Lesser Stag Beetle · Cantharis rustica +18
7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata Speckled Bush-cricket Leptophyes punctatissima Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus Cantharis rustica Cantharis rustica Water Scorpion Nepa cinerea Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Water Measurer Hydrometra stagnorum
Water Measurer Hydrometra stagnorum
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax
Firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus
Firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus
Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum
Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum
Indet. Ladybird Coccinellidae
Indet. Ladybird Coccinellidae
Comma Polygonia c-album
Comma Polygonia c-album
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
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
Rose Chafer Cetonia aurata
Rose Chafer Cetonia aurata Events & activities nearby Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
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