Matlock forest ✦ Ancient woodland 26 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🍂 Seasonal
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 26 ha
Places › England › East Midlands › North East Derbyshire Getting here
53.14852, -1.48524
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 — Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Robin +50 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Robin +50 more · last seen 2026
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Broad-leaved Helleborine, Early-purple Orchid, Ragged-Robin +59 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Glow-worm, Roesel's Bush-cricket, Small Tortoiseshell +66 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Glow-worm, Roesel's Bush-cricket, Small Tortoiseshell +66 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
Plants — Wild Marjoram, Mouse-ear-hawkweed, Common Chickweed +6 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 4 signed routes nearby · 57 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
Limestone Way Walking route 74 km ▾
Castleton to Rocester
Named route Length 74 km Point-to-point Regional walking route
Show on map Chesterfield Round Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Derwent Valley Heritage Way Walking route 89 km ▾
Named route Length 89 km Regional walking route
Show on map South Chesterfield Way Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Greenfield Lane public footpath · 222 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 222 m Path type: service
Show on map Greenfield Lane public footpath · 128 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 128 m Surface dirt Path type: track
Show on map Gin Lane public footpath · 477 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 477 m Surface gravel Path type: track
Show on map 11 public paths nearby
Public paths
No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the 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: 0a69ce0d-86de-4adb-9286-5d6f87b31f7d
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
5,865 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 5,865 records · National Biodiversity Network Chaffinch
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Stoat
Glow-worm · Bertkauia lucifuga
Glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca Bertkauia lucifuga Bertkauia lucifuga Wild Marjoram · Wood-sorrel · Ash · Festuca rubra · Hard-fern +135
Wild Marjoram Origanum vulgare Wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella Ash Fraxinus excelsior Festuca rubra Festuca rubra Hard-fern Blechnum spicant Hazel Corylus avellana Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 5,865 records · National Biodiversity Network Chaffinch
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Stoat
Glow-worm · Bertkauia lucifuga
Glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca Bertkauia lucifuga Bertkauia lucifuga Wild Marjoram · Wood-sorrel · Ash · Festuca rubra · Hard-fern +135
Wild Marjoram Origanum vulgare Wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella Ash Fraxinus excelsior Festuca rubra Festuca rubra Hard-fern Blechnum spicant Hazel Corylus avellana Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris
Cleavers Galium aparine
Cleavers Galium aparine
Greater Plantain Plantago major
Greater Plantain Plantago major
Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper
Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper
Wood Speedwell Veronica montana
Wood Speedwell Veronica montana
Raspberry Rubus idaeus
Raspberry Rubus idaeus
Common Nettle Urtica dioica
Common Nettle Urtica dioica
Nipplewort Lapsana communis
Nipplewort Lapsana communis
Wood Avens Geum urbanum
Wood Avens Geum urbanum
Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum
Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum
White Clover Trifolium repens
White Clover Trifolium repens
Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum
Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum
Silver Birch Betula pendula
Silver Birch Betula pendula
Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica
Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica
Rosebay Willowherb Chamaenerion angustifolium
Rosebay Willowherb Chamaenerion angustifolium
False Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius
False Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius
Rough Meadow-grass Poa trivialis
Rough Meadow-grass Poa trivialis
Centaurea nigra Centaurea nigra
Centaurea nigra Centaurea nigra
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus
Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus
Holly Ilex aquifolium
Holly Ilex aquifolium
Hawkweed Hieracium
Hawkweed Hieracium
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium
Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne
Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne
Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre
Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre
Common Ivy Hedera helix subsp. helix
Common Ivy Hedera helix subsp. helix
Bush Vetch Vicia sepium
Bush Vetch Vicia sepium
Soft-brome Bromus hordeaceus
Soft-brome Bromus hordeaceus
Square-stalked Willowherb Epilobium tetragonum
Square-stalked Willowherb Epilobium tetragonum
Eyebright Euphrasia
Eyebright Euphrasia
Broad-leaved Helleborine Epipactis helleborine
Broad-leaved Helleborine Epipactis helleborine
Perennial Sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis
Perennial Sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis
Weld Reseda luteola
Weld Reseda luteola
Burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga
Burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga
Wild Angelica Angelica sylvestris
Wild Angelica Angelica sylvestris
Common Figwort Scrophularia nodosa
Common Figwort Scrophularia nodosa
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa
Heath Wood-rush Luzula multiflora
Heath Wood-rush Luzula multiflora
Meadow Foxtail Alopecurus pratensis
Meadow Foxtail Alopecurus pratensis
Creeping Soft-grass Holcus mollis
Creeping Soft-grass Holcus mollis
Field Maple Acer campestre
Field Maple Acer campestre
Field-rose Rosa arvensis
Field-rose Rosa arvensis
Yew Taxus baccata
Yew Taxus baccata
Red Clover Trifolium pratense
Red Clover Trifolium pratense
Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris
Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris
Common Couch Elymus repens
Common Couch Elymus repens
Common Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum
Common Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum
Mat-grass Nardus stricta
Mat-grass Nardus stricta
Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus
Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus
Black Medick Medicago lupulina
Black Medick Medicago lupulina
Sweet Vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum
Sweet Vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum
Sticky Mouse-ear Cerastium glomeratum
Sticky Mouse-ear Cerastium glomeratum
Wavy Hair-Grass Avenella flexuosa
Wavy Hair-Grass Avenella flexuosa
Guelder-rose Viburnum opulus
Guelder-rose Viburnum opulus
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Meadow Crane's-bill Geranium pratense
Meadow Crane's-bill Geranium pratense
Shining Crane's-bill Geranium lucidum
Shining Crane's-bill Geranium lucidum
Beech Fagus sylvatica
Beech Fagus sylvatica
Goat Willow Salix caprea
Goat Willow Salix caprea
Traveller's-joy Clematis vitalba
Traveller's-joy Clematis vitalba
Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa
Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa
Horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum
Horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum
Tormentil Potentilla erecta
Tormentil Potentilla erecta
Red Oak Quercus rubra
Red Oak Quercus rubra
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata
Silverweed Potentilla anserina
Silverweed Potentilla anserina
Crested Dog's-tail Cynosurus cristatus
Crested Dog's-tail Cynosurus cristatus
Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera
Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera
Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea
Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea
Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris
Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris
Wood Melick Melica uniflora
Wood Melick Melica uniflora
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium
Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea
Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea
Lady-fern Athyrium filix-femina
Lady-fern Athyrium filix-femina
Water Figwort Scrophularia auriculata
Water Figwort Scrophularia auriculata
Hybrid Larch Larix decidua x kaempferi = L. x marschlinsii
Hybrid Larch Larix decidua x kaempferi = L. x marschlinsii
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense
Red Campion Silene dioica
Red Campion Silene dioica
Pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea
Pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea
Wych Elm Ulmus glabra
Wych Elm Ulmus glabra
Wood Forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica
Wood Forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica
Tufted Hair-grass Deschampsia cespitosa
Tufted Hair-grass Deschampsia cespitosa
Polygonum aviculare Polygonum aviculare
Polygonum aviculare Polygonum aviculare
Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum
Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum
Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus
Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus
Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Garden Lady's-mantle Alchemilla mollis
Garden Lady's-mantle Alchemilla mollis
Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur
Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur
Compact Rush Juncus conglomeratus
Compact Rush Juncus conglomeratus
Soft Shield-fern Polystichum setiferum
Soft Shield-fern Polystichum setiferum
Goat's-beard Tragopogon pratensis
Goat's-beard Tragopogon pratensis
Hairy Wood-rush Luzula pilosa
Hairy Wood-rush Luzula pilosa
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Lime Tilia cordata x platyphyllos = T. x europaea
Lime Tilia cordata x platyphyllos = T. x europaea
Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata
Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata
Bracken Pteridium aquilinum
Bracken Pteridium aquilinum
Dandelion Taraxacum
Dandelion Taraxacum
Lesser Burdock Arctium minus
Lesser Burdock Arctium minus
Sweet Chestnut Castanea sativa
Sweet Chestnut Castanea sativa
Wild Cherry Prunus avium
Wild Cherry Prunus avium
Sweet Cicely Myrrhis odorata
Sweet Cicely Myrrhis odorata
Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum
Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum
Common Chickweed Stellaria media
Common Chickweed Stellaria media
Black Bryony Tamus communis
Black Bryony Tamus communis
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca
Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca
Common Valerian Valeriana officinalis
Common Valerian Valeriana officinalis
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens
Cat's-ear Hypochaeris radicata
Cat's-ear Hypochaeris radicata
Foxglove Digitalis purpurea
Foxglove Digitalis purpurea
Sheep's Fescue agg. Festuca ovina
Sheep's Fescue agg. Festuca ovina
Field Wood-rush Luzula campestris
Field Wood-rush Luzula campestris
Broad-leaved Willowherb Epilobium montanum
Broad-leaved Willowherb Epilobium montanum
Fat-hen Chenopodium album
Fat-hen Chenopodium album
Elder Sambucus nigra
Elder Sambucus nigra
Wavy Bitter-cress Cardamine flexuosa
Wavy Bitter-cress Cardamine flexuosa
Male-fern Dryopteris filix-mas
Male-fern Dryopteris filix-mas
Dog's Mercury Mercurialis perennis
Dog's Mercury Mercurialis perennis
Rowan Sorbus aucuparia
Rowan Sorbus aucuparia
Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius
Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius
Ramsons Allium ursinum
Ramsons Allium ursinum
Gorse Ulex europaeus
Gorse Ulex europaeus
Wood Dock Rumex sanguineus
Wood Dock Rumex sanguineus
Rosa canina Rosa canina
Rosa canina Rosa canina
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
Bearded Couch Elymus caninus
Bearded Couch Elymus caninus
Cherry Laurel Prunus laurocerasus
Cherry Laurel Prunus laurocerasus
Soft-rush Juncus effusus
Soft-rush Juncus effusus
Rough Hawkbit Leontodon hispidus
Rough Hawkbit Leontodon hispidus
Bramble Rubus fruticosus
Bramble Rubus fruticosus
Pignut Conopodium majus
Pignut Conopodium majus
Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. montanum Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. montanum
Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. montanum Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. montanum 