Long Spring ✦ Ancient woodland 3 ha
Plan your visit
🦅 Birds🦉 Wildlife🌿 Foraging
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 3 ha
Places › England › Eastern › Welwyn Hatfield Getting here
51.81682, -0.23421
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ 🐦 67+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Jackdaw and Woodpigeon 🌿 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
🐦 67+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Jackdaw and Woodpigeon 🌿 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 £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🌿 Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow +64 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow +64 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals
Free
Plants — Dandelion, Common Sorrel, Rough Hawkbit +10 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper +64 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper +64 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Cock's-foot, Yorkshire-fog, Red Fescue +87 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Cock's-foot, Yorkshire-fog, Red Fescue +87 more · last seen 2026
Free
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 15 signed routes nearby · 24 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
Old Railway & River Lea Walking route 7.9 km ▾
After a brief visit to the remains of Wheathampstead railway station, the walk follows the Ayot Greenway (route of the Permanent Way) to Ayot Green. The return journey follows the course of the River Lea.
Named route Length 7.9 km Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Lea Valley Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Point-to-point Regional walking route
Show on map Wheathampstead to Shaw's Corner Circular Walk, Shaw's Corner Walking route 12.2 km ▾
Mostly easy walking across established footpaths and fields. There are some steps along the route, and a steep gully at section 2. Assistance dogs only at Shaw's Corner.
Named route Length 12.2 km Duration 03:00 Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Above the Lea Valley Walking route 6.5 km ▾
From quiet woods to expansive views over the Lea valley, this walk includes Gustard Wood at the northern tip of Wheathampstead and the Grade I splendour of Mackerye End.
Named route Length 6.5 km Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Hertfordshire Way Walking route 267 km ▾
Long distance path
Named route Length 267 km Regional walking route
Show on map 78 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Ayot Greenway Cycling route ▾
Route 12 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 12 National Cycle Network
Show on map Route 61 Cycling route 34 km ▾
Route 61 travels from Maidenhead to Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and Hertford before arriving near Hoddesdon.
Named route Ref 61 Length 34 km National Cycle Network
Show on map NCN National Route 57 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 57 National Cycle Network
Show on map Chilterns Cycleway Cycling route ▾
Named route Round trip Regional cycle route
Show on map Main Route Cycling route 52 m ▾
Named route Ref 12 Length 52 m National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface asphalt
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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UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
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Wildlife to spot
17,882 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 17,882 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 28 species
autumn winter
2025 ▾
Carrion Crow · Jackdaw · Blue Tit · Magpie · Blackbird +23
Carrion Crow Corvus corone Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Magpie Pica pica Blackbird Turdus merula Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Robin Erithacus rubecula Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Great Tit Parus major Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Rock Dove Columba livia Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Starling Sturnus vulgaris Goldcrest Regulus regulus Crossbill Loxia curvirostra Common Gull Larus canus Redwing Turdus iliacus Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Stock Dove Columba oenas Coal Tit Periparus ater Little Egret Egretta garzetta Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Jay Garrulus glandarius Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Mole · Grey Squirrel
Mole Talpa europaea Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Yorkshire-fog · Dandelion · Rough Hawkbit · Knapweed · Red Fescue +44
Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus2025 Dandelion Taraxacum2025 Rough Hawkbit Leontodon hispidus2025 Knapweed Centaurea2025 Red Fescue Festuca rubra2025 Hedge Bedstraw Galium album2025 Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 17,882 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 28 species
autumn winter
2025 ▾
Carrion Crow · Jackdaw · Blue Tit · Magpie · Blackbird +23
Carrion Crow Corvus corone Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Magpie Pica pica Blackbird Turdus merula Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Robin Erithacus rubecula Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Great Tit Parus major Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Rock Dove Columba livia Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Starling Sturnus vulgaris Goldcrest Regulus regulus Crossbill Loxia curvirostra Common Gull Larus canus Redwing Turdus iliacus Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Stock Dove Columba oenas Coal Tit Periparus ater Little Egret Egretta garzetta Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Jay Garrulus glandarius Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Mole · Grey Squirrel
Mole Talpa europaea Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Yorkshire-fog · Dandelion · Rough Hawkbit · Knapweed · Red Fescue +44
Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus2025 Dandelion Taraxacum2025 Rough Hawkbit Leontodon hispidus2025 Knapweed Centaurea2025 Red Fescue Festuca rubra2025 Hedge Bedstraw Galium album2025 Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wild Marjoram Origanum vulgare2025
Wild Marjoram Origanum vulgare2025
Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea2025
Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea2025
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna2025
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna2025
Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa2025
Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa2025
Field Scabious Knautia arvensis2025
Field Scabious Knautia arvensis2025
Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne2025
Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne2025
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens2025
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens2025
Yarrow Achillea millefolium2025
Yarrow Achillea millefolium2025
Dove's-foot Crane's-bill Geranium molle2025
Dove's-foot Crane's-bill Geranium molle2025
Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum2025
Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum2025
Wood Avens Geum urbanum2025
Wood Avens Geum urbanum2025
Dogwood Cornus sanguinea2025
Dogwood Cornus sanguinea2025
Dog-rose Rosa canina2025
Dog-rose Rosa canina2025
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium2025
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium2025
Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata2025
Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata2025
Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans2025
Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans2025
Cherry Prunus2025
Cherry Prunus2025
Hedge Bindweed Calystegia sepium2025
Hedge Bindweed Calystegia sepium2025
Bramble Rubus2025
Bramble Rubus2025
Ivy Hedera helix2025
Ivy Hedera helix2025
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa2025
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa2025
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata2025
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata2025
Burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga2025
Burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga2025
Common Feather-moss Kindbergia praelonga
Common Feather-moss Kindbergia praelonga
Spindle Euonymus europaeus2025
Spindle Euonymus europaeus2025
Goat's-beard Tragopogon pratensis2025
Goat's-beard Tragopogon pratensis2025
Red Clover Trifolium pratense2025
Red Clover Trifolium pratense2025
Oak Quercus2025
Oak Quercus2025
Black Medick Medicago lupulina2025
Black Medick Medicago lupulina2025
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus2025
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus2025
Common Nettle Urtica dioica2025
Common Nettle Urtica dioica2025
Traveller's-joy Clematis vitalba2025
Traveller's-joy Clematis vitalba2025
Elder Sambucus nigra2025
Elder Sambucus nigra2025
Wych Elm Ulmus glabra2025
Wych Elm Ulmus glabra2025
Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare2025
Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare2025
Salad Burnet Poterium sanguisorba2025
Salad Burnet Poterium sanguisorba2025
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris2025
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris2025
Ash Fraxinus excelsior2025
Ash Fraxinus excelsior2025
Barren Strawberry Potentilla sterilis2025
Barren Strawberry Potentilla sterilis2025
White Clover Trifolium repens2025
White Clover Trifolium repens2025
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense2025
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense2025
Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria2025
Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria2025
False-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum2025
False-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum2025 