Highfield Country Park 5 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🌿 Foraging🧺 Picnic
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 5 ha
Places › England › North West › Manchester Getting here
53.44138, -2.17714
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 🌿 Foraging is at its best in summer here 🧺 Picnic area on site — summer afternoons here are an easy, low-cost day out 🌤️ Visiting this summer
☀️ June — canopy now fully closed, creating cool dappled shade even on warm days 🌿 Foraging is at its best in summer here 🧺 Picnic area on site — summer afternoons here are an easy, low-cost day out £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🅿️ Parking· Free 🧺 Picnic spot
🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals
Free
Plants — Hawthorn, Hazel, Elder +17 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
🧺 Picnic day out
Strong match
picnic area, car park
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Rock Dove, Magpie +37 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Rock Dove, Magpie +37 more · last seen 2026
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Green Shieldbug, 7-spot Ladybird, Common Carder Bee +154 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Green Shieldbug, 7-spot Ladybird, Common Carder Bee +154 more · last seen 2026
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Hawthorn, Creeping Thistle, Common Ragwort +123 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Hawthorn, Creeping Thistle, Common Ragwort +123 more · last seen 2026
Free
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 19 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Midshires Way Walking route 370 km ▾
Multi-use trail links the Ridgeway National Trail with the Trans Pennine Trail
Named route Length 370 km Regional walking route
Show on map Ladybrook Valley Interest Trail Walking route ▾
Tameside Trail (West - Broadbottom to Mossley) Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Trans-Pennine Trail (Stockport to Silkstone Common) Walking route ▾
Named route Regional walking route
Show on map Cheshire Ring Canal Walk Walking route ▾
295 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Route 60 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 60 National Cycle Network
Show on map Greater Manchester regional route 85 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 85 Regional cycle route
Show on map Broughton Cycleway Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Alan Newton Way Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Audenshaw Ashton Link Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map A6 alternate route Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map 2 public paths nearby
Public paths
Nelstrop Road North bridleway · 31 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 31 m Path type: cycleway
Show on map Nelstrop Road North bridleway · 993 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 993 m Surface asphalt Path type: cycleway
Show on map
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
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id: c19046a7-7af0-4af2-8bb9-451b4d541db2
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
15,500 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 15,500 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 21 species
autumn winter
2026 ▾
Rock Dove · Woodpigeon · Lesser Black-backed Gull · Carrion Crow · Black-headed Gull +16
Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2025 Magpie Pica pica2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2025 Blackbird Turdus merula Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Coot Fulica atra2025 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Little Egret Egretta garzetta2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 White Stork Ciconia ciconia2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Grey Squirrel
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis 🐸 Amphibians 1 species
winter autumn
2026 ▾
Common Frog
Common Frog Rana temporaria Green Shieldbug · Common Carder Bee · Syrphus ribesii · Eristalis tenax · 7-spot Ladybird +21
Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina2025 Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum2025 Syrphus ribesii Syrphus ribesii2025 Eristalis tenax Eristalis tenax2025 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata2025 Syrphus Syrphus Creeping Thistle · Ivy · Herb-Robert · Hazel · Creeping Buttercup +43
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense2025 Ivy Hedera helix Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum2025 Hazel Corylus avellana Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens2025 Wall-rue Asplenium ruta-muraria2025 Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 15,500 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 21 species
autumn winter
2026 ▾
Rock Dove · Woodpigeon · Lesser Black-backed Gull · Carrion Crow · Black-headed Gull +16
Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2025 Magpie Pica pica2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2025 Blackbird Turdus merula Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Coot Fulica atra2025 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Little Egret Egretta garzetta2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 White Stork Ciconia ciconia2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Grey Squirrel
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis 🐸 Amphibians 1 species
winter autumn
2026 ▾
Common Frog
Common Frog Rana temporaria Green Shieldbug · Common Carder Bee · Syrphus ribesii · Eristalis tenax · 7-spot Ladybird +21
Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina2025 Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum2025 Syrphus ribesii Syrphus ribesii2025 Eristalis tenax Eristalis tenax2025 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata2025 Syrphus Syrphus Creeping Thistle · Ivy · Herb-Robert · Hazel · Creeping Buttercup +43
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense2025 Ivy Hedera helix Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum2025 Hazel Corylus avellana Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens2025 Wall-rue Asplenium ruta-muraria2025 Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
2025
2025
Xylota segnis Xylota segnis2025
Xylota segnis Xylota segnis2025
Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris2025
Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris2025
Bombus terrestris subsp. audax Bombus terrestris subsp. audax
Bombus terrestris subsp. audax Bombus terrestris subsp. audax
Ocys harpaloides/tachysoides Ocys harpaloides/tachysoides
Ocys harpaloides/tachysoides Ocys harpaloides/tachysoides
Pterostichus melanarius Pterostichus melanarius
Pterostichus melanarius Pterostichus melanarius
Harmonia axyridis form spectabilis Harmonia axyridis form spectabilis
Harmonia axyridis form spectabilis Harmonia axyridis form spectabilis
Ectopsocus briggsi agg. (briggsi/petersi/meridionalis) Ectopsocus briggsi agg. (briggsi/petersi/meridionalis)2025
Ectopsocus briggsi agg. (briggsi/petersi/meridionalis) Ectopsocus briggsi agg. (briggsi/petersi/meridionalis)2025
Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae2025
Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae2025
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris2025
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris2025
Ectopsocus petersi Ectopsocus petersi2025
Ectopsocus petersi Ectopsocus petersi2025
Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata2025
Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata2025
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus2025
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus2025
Common Water-Boatman Notonecta (Notonecta) glauca2025
Common Water-Boatman Notonecta (Notonecta) glauca2025
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax2025
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax2025
Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea2025
Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea2025
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum2025
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum2025
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus2025
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus2025
Platycheirus albimanus Platycheirus albimanus2025
Platycheirus albimanus Platycheirus albimanus2025
Eupeodes Eupeodes2025
Eupeodes Eupeodes2025
Nemopoda nitidula Nemopoda nitidula2025
Nemopoda nitidula Nemopoda nitidula2025 Bittersweet
Bittersweet
Solanum dulcamara2025
Solanum dulcamara2025
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris2025
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris2025
Flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum
Flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum
White Dead-nettle Lamium album
White Dead-nettle Lamium album
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna2025
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna2025
Smooth Sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus2025
Smooth Sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus2025
Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara2025
Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara2025
Nipplewort Lapsana communis2025
Nipplewort Lapsana communis2025
Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata2025
Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata2025
Marsh Woundwort Stachys palustris2025
Marsh Woundwort Stachys palustris2025
Japanese Knotweed Reynoutria japonica2025
Japanese Knotweed Reynoutria japonica2025
Rosebay Willowherb Chamaenerion angustifolium2025
Rosebay Willowherb Chamaenerion angustifolium2025
Gypsywort Lycopus europaeus2025
Gypsywort Lycopus europaeus2025
Green Alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens
Green Alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens
Groundsel Senecio vulgaris
Groundsel Senecio vulgaris
Dandelion Taraxacum2025
Dandelion Taraxacum2025
Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur2025
Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur2025
Wild Teasel Dipsacus fullonum2025
Wild Teasel Dipsacus fullonum2025
Ash Fraxinus excelsior2025
Ash Fraxinus excelsior2025
Elder Sambucus nigra2025
Elder Sambucus nigra2025
Bulrush Typha latifolia2025
Bulrush Typha latifolia2025
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare2025
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare2025
Broom Cytisus scoparius2025
Broom Cytisus scoparius2025
Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium officinale2025
Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium officinale2025
Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii2025
Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii2025
Lesser Water-parsnip Berula erecta2025
Lesser Water-parsnip Berula erecta2025
Yarrow Achillea millefolium2025
Yarrow Achillea millefolium2025
Rowan Sorbus aucuparia2025
Rowan Sorbus aucuparia2025
Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense2025
Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense2025
Bristly Oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides2025
Bristly Oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides2025
Red Bartsia Odontites vernus2025
Red Bartsia Odontites vernus2025
Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris2025
Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris2025
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium2025
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium2025
Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum2025
Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum2025
Soapwort Saponaria officinalis2025
Soapwort Saponaria officinalis2025
Common Nettle Urtica dioica2025
Common Nettle Urtica dioica2025
Turkey Oak Quercus cerris2025
Turkey Oak Quercus cerris2025
Large Bindweed Calystegia silvatica2025
Large Bindweed Calystegia silvatica2025
Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius2025
Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius2025
Black Medick Medicago lupulina2025
Black Medick Medicago lupulina2025
Daisy Bellis perennis2025
Daisy Bellis perennis2025
Water Bent Polypogon viridis2025
Water Bent Polypogon viridis2025