Lea Manor Recreation Centre ✦ Ancient woodland 19 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🍂 Seasonal
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 19 ha
Places › England › Eastern › Luton Getting here
51.92071, -0.44736
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 🅿️ Parking on site — 20 car parks within reach 🌤️ 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 🅿️ Parking on site — 20 car parks within reach £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🌿 Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Magpie, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit +55 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Magpie, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit +55 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Pyramidal Orchid, Marsh Thistle, Meadowsweet +53 more · last seen 2026
Free
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Eristalis pertinax, Meliscaeva auricollis, Batman Hoverfly +28 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Eristalis pertinax, Meliscaeva auricollis, Batman Hoverfly +28 more · last seen 2025
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic; Plants — Meadowsweet, Water Mint, Hazel +3 more foraging species
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 6 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
The Chiltern Way Walking route 275 km ▾
A waymarked long-distance footpath in southern England
Named route Ref CW Length 275 km Regional walking route
Show on map Lea Valley Walk (link to Leagrave Station) Walking route ▾
Named route Regional walking route
Show on map John Bunyan Trail Walking route ▾
Named route Regional walking route
Show on map Icknield Way Path Walking route 169 km ▾
long distance footpath 169 km
Named route Length 169 km Regional walking route
Show on map Lea Valley Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Point-to-point Regional walking route
Show on map 72 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
NCN National Route 606 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 606 National Cycle Network
Show on map Chilterns Cycleway Cycling route ▾
Named route Round trip Regional cycle route
Show on map Ride on the wild side Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Route 6 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 6 National Cycle Network
Show on map N/A Cycling route 39 m ▾
Named route Length 39 m National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface asphalt
Show on map Main Route Cycling route 947 m ▾
Named route Ref 6 Length 947 m National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface asphalt
Show on map 1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
Icknield Way Cycle Trail Mountain bike route 226 km ▾
This is the off-road or mountain cycling route of the Icknield Way Trail.
Named route Length 226 km Regional 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.
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
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id: 52f17f60-a9ab-4367-93f0-99062a382cbd
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
36,788 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 36,788 records · National Biodiversity Network Goldfinch · Magpie · Robin · Blackbird · Woodpigeon +33
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Magpie Pica pica Robin Erithacus rubecula Blackbird Turdus merula Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Carrion Crow Corvus corone Greenfinch Chloris chloris Rock Dove Columba livia Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus House Sparrow Passer domesticus Dunnock Prunella modularis Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Great Tit Parus major Stock Dove Columba oenas Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Swift Apus apus Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Starling Sturnus vulgaris Herring Gull Larus argentatus Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Nuthatch Sitta europaea Jay Garrulus glandarius Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Rook Corvus frugilegus Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Little Egret Egretta garzetta Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Whitethroat Curruca communis Coal Tit Periparus ater Goldcrest Regulus regulus Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Field Grasshopper · Ablattaria laevigata · Roesel's Bush-cricket
Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus Ablattaria laevigata Ablattaria laevigata Roesel's Bush-cricket Roeseliana roeselii Meadowsweet · Marsh Thistle · Pyramidal Orchid · Creeping Thistle · Sainfoin +40
Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria2025 Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre2025 Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis2025 Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense2025 Sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia2025 Welted Thistle Carduus crispus Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 36,788 records · National Biodiversity Network Goldfinch · Magpie · Robin · Blackbird · Woodpigeon +33
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Magpie Pica pica Robin Erithacus rubecula Blackbird Turdus merula Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Carrion Crow Corvus corone Greenfinch Chloris chloris Rock Dove Columba livia Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus House Sparrow Passer domesticus Dunnock Prunella modularis Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Great Tit Parus major Stock Dove Columba oenas Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Swift Apus apus Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Starling Sturnus vulgaris Herring Gull Larus argentatus Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Nuthatch Sitta europaea Jay Garrulus glandarius Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Rook Corvus frugilegus Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Little Egret Egretta garzetta Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Whitethroat Curruca communis Coal Tit Periparus ater Goldcrest Regulus regulus Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Field Grasshopper · Ablattaria laevigata · Roesel's Bush-cricket
Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus Ablattaria laevigata Ablattaria laevigata Roesel's Bush-cricket Roeseliana roeselii Meadowsweet · Marsh Thistle · Pyramidal Orchid · Creeping Thistle · Sainfoin +40
Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria2025 Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre2025 Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis2025 Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense2025 Sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia2025 Welted Thistle Carduus crispus Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
2025
2025
Water Mint Mentha aquatica2025
Water Mint Mentha aquatica2025
Hornbeam Carpinus betulus2025
Hornbeam Carpinus betulus2025
Hazel Corylus avellana2025
Hazel Corylus avellana2025
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus2025
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus2025
Yarrow Achillea millefolium2025
Yarrow Achillea millefolium2025
Large Bindweed Calystegia silvatica2025
Large Bindweed Calystegia silvatica2025
Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca2025
Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca2025
Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
Alder Alnus glutinosa2025
Alder Alnus glutinosa2025
Spindle Euonymus europaeus2025
Spindle Euonymus europaeus2025
Dwarf Mallow Malva neglecta2025
Dwarf Mallow Malva neglecta2025
Scented Mayweed Matricaria chamomilla2025
Scented Mayweed Matricaria chamomilla2025
Black Horehound Ballota nigra2025
Black Horehound Ballota nigra2025
Selfheal Prunella vulgaris2025
Selfheal Prunella vulgaris2025
Bristly Oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides2025
Bristly Oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides2025
Cut-leaved Crane's-bill Geranium dissectum2025
Cut-leaved Crane's-bill Geranium dissectum2025
Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum2025
Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum2025
Horse-radish Armoracia rusticana2025
Horse-radish Armoracia rusticana2025
Soapwort Saponaria officinalis2025
Soapwort Saponaria officinalis2025
Bittersweet Solanum dulcamara2025
Bittersweet Solanum dulcamara2025
Wild Carrot Daucus carota2025
Wild Carrot Daucus carota2025
Goat Willow Salix caprea2025
Goat Willow Salix caprea2025
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus2025
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus2025
Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera2025
Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera2025
Tansy Tanacetum vulgare2025
Tansy Tanacetum vulgare2025
Clustered Bellflower Campanula glomerata2025
Clustered Bellflower Campanula glomerata2025
Russian-vine Fallopia baldschuanica2025
Russian-vine Fallopia baldschuanica2025
Pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea2025
Pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea2025
Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica2025
Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica2025
Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium2025
Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium2025
Dropwort Filipendula vulgaris2025
Dropwort Filipendula vulgaris2025
Wild Privet Ligustrum vulgare2025
Wild Privet Ligustrum vulgare2025
Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata2025
Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata2025
Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis2025
Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis2025
Common Mallow Malva sylvestris2025
Common Mallow Malva sylvestris2025
Goat's-beard Tragopogon pratensis2025
Goat's-beard Tragopogon pratensis2025
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium2025
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium2025
Common Comfrey Symphytum officinale2025
Common Comfrey Symphytum officinale2025
Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus2025
Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus2025 