Old Courthouse Recreation Ground 12 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🧺 Picnic
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 12 ha
Getting here
51.65060, -0.20270
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ ☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit 🧺 Good picnic destination in summer — open space and facilities for a relaxed day out 🛝 Playground 108m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site 🌤️ Visiting this summer
☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit 🧺 Good picnic destination in summer — open space and facilities for a relaxed day out 🛝 Playground 108m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🚲 Bike parking🅿️ Parking· Paid 🧺 Picnic spot🛝 Playground
🦉 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 — Woodpigeon, Robin, Starling +55 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Robin, Starling +55 more · last seen 2026
Free
🧺 Picnic day out
Strong match
picnic area, car park; Urban park — open green space
Free
🛝 Family friendly
Strong match
playground, picnic area; Urban park — family destination
Free
Plants — Common Nettle, Dandelion, Bramble +10 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Lesser Stag Beetle, Hornet Hoverfly +51 more · last seen 2026; Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Lesser Stag Beetle, Hornet Hoverfly +51 more · last seen 2026
Free
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 20 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
LOOP link to Cockfosters Underground Walking route ▾
Named route Regional walking route
Show on map Dollis Valley Greenwalk link Walking route ▾
Named route Ref DVGlink Local walking route
Show on map Shenley Route 5 Walking route ▾
Named route Ref 5 Local walking route
Show on map Shenley Walk 4 Walking route ▾
Named route Ref 4 Local walking route
Show on map London LOOP (Section 16 unsigned alternative) Walking route ▾
Alternative route avoiding the opening road walking
Named route Regional walking route
Show on map 38 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Route 12 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 12 National Cycle Network
Show on map Shenley Circuit Cycling route ▾
Named route Round trip Local cycle route
Show on map LCN Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map LCN Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map LCN 89 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 89 Local cycle route
Show on map LCN 85 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 85 Local cycle route
Show on map Photos Bowling green and pavilion in Old Court House Recreation Ground
‹ ›
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
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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.
© 2026 Glade · Made with care for UK green spaces
Wildlife to spot
36,219 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 36,219 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 40 species
autumn winter
2026 ▾
Robin · Woodpigeon · Magpie · Black-headed Gull · Collared Dove +35
Robin Erithacus rubecula Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Magpie Pica pica Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Great Tit Parus major2025 Peregrine Falco peregrinus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Coot Fulica atra Mallard Anas platyrhynchos House Sparrow Passer domesticus2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Goldcrest Regulus regulus2025 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba2025 Hobby Falco subbuteo2025 Treecreeper Certhia familiaris2025 Common Gull Larus canus2025 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula2025 Redwing Turdus iliacus Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca2025 Rook Corvus frugilegus2025 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo2025 Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata2025 Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Mute Swan Cygnus olor2025 Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Grey Squirrel · Red Fox · Common Pipistrelle · Feral Cat · Mole +2
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus Feral Cat Felis catus Mole Talpa europaea Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Badger Meles meles 🐸 Amphibians 2 species
winter
2026 ▾
Smooth Newt · Common Frog
Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris Common Frog Rana temporaria 🐝 Insects 27 species
winter summer
2026 ▾
Lesser Stag Beetle · Hornet Hoverfly · Stag Beetle · Saprosites natalensis · Orange Ladybird +22
Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria2025 Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus Saprosites natalensis Saprosites natalensis Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata2025 Eristalis intricaria Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 36,219 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 40 species
autumn winter
2026 ▾
Robin · Woodpigeon · Magpie · Black-headed Gull · Collared Dove +35
Robin Erithacus rubecula Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Magpie Pica pica Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Great Tit Parus major2025 Peregrine Falco peregrinus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Coot Fulica atra Mallard Anas platyrhynchos House Sparrow Passer domesticus2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Goldcrest Regulus regulus2025 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba2025 Hobby Falco subbuteo2025 Treecreeper Certhia familiaris2025 Common Gull Larus canus2025 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula2025 Redwing Turdus iliacus Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca2025 Rook Corvus frugilegus2025 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo2025 Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata2025 Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Mute Swan Cygnus olor2025 Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Grey Squirrel · Red Fox · Common Pipistrelle · Feral Cat · Mole +2
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus Feral Cat Felis catus Mole Talpa europaea Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Badger Meles meles 🐸 Amphibians 2 species
winter
2026 ▾
Smooth Newt · Common Frog
Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris Common Frog Rana temporaria 🐝 Insects 27 species
winter summer
2026 ▾
Lesser Stag Beetle · Hornet Hoverfly · Stag Beetle · Saprosites natalensis · Orange Ladybird +22
Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria2025 Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus Saprosites natalensis Saprosites natalensis Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata2025 Eristalis intricaria Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Eristalis intricaria2025
Eristalis intricaria2025
16-spot Ladybird Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata2025
16-spot Ladybird Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata2025
Leistus fulvibarbis Leistus fulvibarbis
Leistus fulvibarbis Leistus fulvibarbis
Black Clock Pterostichus madidus
Black Clock Pterostichus madidus
Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes
Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes
Nebria brevicollis Nebria brevicollis
Nebria brevicollis Nebria brevicollis
Southern Oak Bush-cricket Meconema meridionale2025
Southern Oak Bush-cricket Meconema meridionale2025
Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale2025
Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale2025
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis2025
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis2025
7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata2025
7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata2025
Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina2025
Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina2025
Helophilus pendulus Helophilus pendulus2025
Helophilus pendulus Helophilus pendulus2025
Eupeodes Eupeodes2025
Eupeodes Eupeodes2025
Willow Emerald Damselfly Chalcolestes viridis2025
Willow Emerald Damselfly Chalcolestes viridis2025
Eupeodes luniger Eupeodes luniger2025
Eupeodes luniger Eupeodes luniger2025
24-spot Ladybird Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata2025
24-spot Ladybird Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata2025
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus2025
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus2025
Rhombic Leatherbug Syromastus rhombeus2025
Rhombic Leatherbug Syromastus rhombeus2025
Volucella inanis Volucella inanis2025
Volucella inanis Volucella inanis2025
Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea2025
Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea2025
Corizus hyoscyami Corizus hyoscyami2025
Corizus hyoscyami Corizus hyoscyami2025
Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum2025
Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum2025 Events & activities nearby Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
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