← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Parsonage Wood

✦ Ancient woodland6 ha

📷 Wikipedia · Parsonage Wood · CC BY-SA 3.0

WildlifeForagingSeasonal

Free entryDogs welcome6 ha

Getting here

50.98713, -4.25701

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿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

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿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

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome
🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat

Best for

7 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Foraging

Strong match

Plants — Hazel, Hawthorn, Beech +11 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Sycamore, Hazel, Holly +60 more · last seen 2021

Free

Bird watching

Strong match

Birds — Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Robin +39 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Robin +39 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Large Yellow Underwing, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral +86 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Large Yellow Underwing, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral +86 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Good match

Ancient woodland — historic landscape

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

3 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Tarka TrailWalking route

Named routeRef TTRegional walking route

South West Coast Path (Section 7: Instow to Westward Ho! )Walking route

Named routeRef SWCPNational walking route

South West Coast Path (Section 8: Westward Ho! to Clovelly)Walking route

Named routeRef SWCPNational walking route

🚴

Cycling

14 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 3Cycling route527.7 km

Named routeRef 3Length 527.7 kmNational Cycle Network

Route 27Cycling route

Named routeRef 27National Cycle Network

Tarka TrailCycling route

Named routeRegional cycle route

EuroVelo 1 - Atlantic Coast Route - part United Kingdom 2Cycling route

Named routeRef EV1International cycle route

Main RouteCycling route294 m

Named routeRef 3Length 294 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route3.8 km

Named routeRef 3Length 3.8 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

2,737 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

2,737 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds43 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2026

Blue Tit · Greenfinch · Robin · Blackbird · Great Tit +38

Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2024
GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
RobinErithacus rubecula2024
BlackbirdTurdus merula2024
Great TitParus major2024
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
DunnockPrunella modularis2024
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2023
SwiftApus apus2023
RedwingTurdus iliacus2022
SiskinSpinus spinus2024
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2024
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
DipperCinclus cinclus2023
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2021
WoodcockScolopax rusticola
Water RailRallus aquaticus2025
Barn OwlTyto alba2025
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2024
SwallowHirundo rustica2023
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2024
Garden WarblerSylvia borin2023
WhitethroatCurruca communis2023
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2023
JayGarrulus glandarius2023
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2023
Erithacus rubecula rubeculaErithacus rubecula rubecula2023
Tree PipitAnthus trivialis2022
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2021
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2021
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2020
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2020

🦌

Mammals2 species

spring

2024

Harvest Mouse · Hedgehog

Harvest MouseMicromys minutus
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus

🦎

Reptiles2 species

spring

2024

Slow-worm · Common Lizard

Slow-wormAnguis fragilis
Common LizardZootoca vivipara

🐝

Insects89 species

summer

2025

Large Yellow Underwing · Red Admiral · Speckled Wood · Peacock · Common Rustic agg. +84

Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronuba2019
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2019
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2019
PeacockAglais io2019
Common Rustic agg.Mesapamea secalis agg.2019
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2019
Dot MothMelanchra persicariae2019
Dark ArchesApamea monoglypha2019
Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa
Wool Carder BeeAnthidium manicatum2021
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2021
Red-tailed BumblebeeBombus lapidarius2021
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2019
Large WhitePieris brassicae2019
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2019
Scalloped OakCrocallis elinguaria2019
Rosy FootmanMiltochrista miniata2019
CoronetCraniophora ligustri2019
Willow BeautyPeribatodes rhomboidaria2019
Small Angle ShadesEuplexia lucipara2019
Riband WaveIdaea aversata2019
Green ArchesAnaplectoides prasina2019
Elephant Hawk-mothDeilephila elpenor2019
SnoutHypena proboscidalis2019
Liophloeus tessulatusLiophloeus tessulatus
Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis2024
Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2023
Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus2023
Black Sexton BeetleNicrophorus humator2021
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2021
Rhingia campestrisRhingia campestris2021
Small Garden BumblebeeBombus hortorum2021
Golden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltonii2020
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2020
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2020
Frosted OrangeGortyna flavago2019
Ear Moth agg.Amphipoea oculea agg.2019
Lesser Yellow UnderwingNoctua comes2019
Setaceous Hebrew CharacterXestia c-nigrum2019
Black RusticAporophyla nigra2019
Square-spot RusticXestia xanthographa2019
Dusky ThornEnnomos fuscantaria2019
Small WhitePieris rapae2019
Common Marbled CarpetDysstroma truncata2019
Rosy RusticHydraecia micacea2019
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2019
CommaPolygonia c-album2019
Black ArchesLymantria monacha2019
Jersey TigerEuplagia quadripunctaria2019
DrinkerEuthrix potatoria2019
Small PhoenixEcliptopera silaceata2019
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2019
SpectacleAbrostola tripartita2019
Sharp-angled PeacockMacaria alternata2019
Early ThornSelenia dentaria2019
Silver YAutographa gamma2019
Small Blood-veinScopula imitaria2019
Large EmeraldGeometra papilionaria2019
UncertainHoplodrina octogenaria2019
Pebble ProminentNotodonta ziczac2019
Bright-line Brown-eyeLacanobia oleracea2019
Beautiful Hook-tipLaspeyria flexula2019
Barred StrawGandaritis pyraliata2019
Peach BlossomThyatira batis2019
Green Silver-linesPseudoips prasinana2019
White-pointMythimna albipuncta2019
Buff ArchesHabrosyne pyritoides2019
Broad-bordered Yellow UnderwingNoctua fimbriata2019
Common WainscotMythimna pallens2019
Treble LinesCharanyca trigrammica2019
LackeyMalacosoma neustria2019
Common EmeraldHemithea aestivaria2019
Privet Hawk-mothSphinx ligustri2019
Plain Golden YAutographa jota2019
Grey ArchesPolia nebulosa2019
Eyed Hawk-mothSmerinthus ocellata2019
Clouded SilverLomographa temerata2019
Dingy FootmanEilema griseola2019
Triple-spotted ClayXestia ditrapezium2019
Fan-footHerminia tarsipennalis2019
Heart & DartAgrotis exclamationis2019
Bordered StrawHeliothis peltigera2019
Coxcomb ProminentPtilodon capucina2019
Peppered MothBiston betularia2019
Buff-tipPhalera bucephala2019
Clouded BorderLomaspilis marginata2019
Poplar Hawk-mothLaothoe populi2019
White ErmineSpilosoma lubricipeda2019
Mottled BeautyAlcis repandata2019

🌿

Plants63 species

spring

2021

Hazel · Sycamore · Holly · Ash · Wood Speedwell +58

HazelCorylus avellana
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus
HollyIlex aquifolium
AshFraxinus excelsior
Wood SpeedwellVeronica montana
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana
Creeping Soft-grassHolcus mollis
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
Field-roseRosa arvensis
Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatata
Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum
Hedera helixHedera helix
Ground-ivyGlechoma hederacea
False-bromeBrachypodium sylvaticum
Soft Shield-fernPolystichum setiferum
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
Greater StitchwortStellaria holostea
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
GorseUlex europaeus
BeechFagus sylvatica
CleaversGalium aparine
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
Dog's MercuryMercurialis perennis
PolypodyPolypodium vulgare
RamsonsAllium ursinum
Enchanter's-nightshadeCircaea lutetiana
Bitter-vetchLathyrus linifolius
Early-purple OrchidOrchis mascula
BugleAjuga reptans
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
Water FigwortScrophularia auriculata
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
ElderSambucus nigra
Bush VetchVicia sepium
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
Rough Meadow-grassPoa trivialis
Goat WillowSalix caprea
Three-cornered GarlicAllium triquetrum
Field MapleAcer campestre
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
BrackenPteridium aquilinum
Yellow PimpernelLysimachia nemorum
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
CrocosmiaCrocosmia
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas
Hedge WoundwortStachys sylvatica
Wild StrawberryFragaria vesca
AlexandersSmyrnium olusatrum
Wood DockRumex sanguineus
Wood SpurgeEuphorbia amygdaloides
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
Red CampionSilene dioica
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Remote SedgeCarex remota
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris
Wood-sorrelOxalis acetosella

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

2,737 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds43 species

winterspringsummerautumn

2026

Blue Tit · Greenfinch · Robin · Blackbird · Great Tit +38

Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2024
GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
RobinErithacus rubecula2024
BlackbirdTurdus merula2024
Great TitParus major2024
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
DunnockPrunella modularis2024
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2023
SwiftApus apus2023
RedwingTurdus iliacus2022
SiskinSpinus spinus2024
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2024
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
DipperCinclus cinclus2023
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2021
WoodcockScolopax rusticola
Water RailRallus aquaticus2025
Barn OwlTyto alba2025
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2024
SwallowHirundo rustica2023
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2024
Garden WarblerSylvia borin2023
WhitethroatCurruca communis2023
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2023
JayGarrulus glandarius2023
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2023
Erithacus rubecula rubeculaErithacus rubecula rubecula2023
Tree PipitAnthus trivialis2022
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2021
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2021
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2020
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2020

🦌

Mammals2 species

spring

2024

Harvest Mouse · Hedgehog

Harvest MouseMicromys minutus
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus

🦎

Reptiles2 species

spring

2024

Slow-worm · Common Lizard

Slow-wormAnguis fragilis
Common LizardZootoca vivipara

🐝

Insects89 species

summer

2025

Large Yellow Underwing · Red Admiral · Speckled Wood · Peacock · Common Rustic agg. +84

Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronuba2019
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2019
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2019
PeacockAglais io2019
Common Rustic agg.Mesapamea secalis agg.2019
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2019
Dot MothMelanchra persicariae2019
Dark ArchesApamea monoglypha2019
Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa
Wool Carder BeeAnthidium manicatum2021
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2021
Red-tailed BumblebeeBombus lapidarius2021
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2019
Large WhitePieris brassicae2019
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2019
Scalloped OakCrocallis elinguaria2019
Rosy FootmanMiltochrista miniata2019
CoronetCraniophora ligustri2019
Willow BeautyPeribatodes rhomboidaria2019
Small Angle ShadesEuplexia lucipara2019
Riband WaveIdaea aversata2019
Green ArchesAnaplectoides prasina2019
Elephant Hawk-mothDeilephila elpenor2019
SnoutHypena proboscidalis2019
Liophloeus tessulatusLiophloeus tessulatus
Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis2024
Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2023
Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus2023
Black Sexton BeetleNicrophorus humator2021
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2021
Rhingia campestrisRhingia campestris2021
Small Garden BumblebeeBombus hortorum2021
Golden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltonii2020
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2020
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2020
Frosted OrangeGortyna flavago2019
Ear Moth agg.Amphipoea oculea agg.2019
Lesser Yellow UnderwingNoctua comes2019
Setaceous Hebrew CharacterXestia c-nigrum2019
Black RusticAporophyla nigra2019
Square-spot RusticXestia xanthographa2019
Dusky ThornEnnomos fuscantaria2019
Small WhitePieris rapae2019
Common Marbled CarpetDysstroma truncata2019
Rosy RusticHydraecia micacea2019
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2019
CommaPolygonia c-album2019
Black ArchesLymantria monacha2019
Jersey TigerEuplagia quadripunctaria2019
DrinkerEuthrix potatoria2019
Small PhoenixEcliptopera silaceata2019
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2019
SpectacleAbrostola tripartita2019
Sharp-angled PeacockMacaria alternata2019
Early ThornSelenia dentaria2019
Silver YAutographa gamma2019
Small Blood-veinScopula imitaria2019
Large EmeraldGeometra papilionaria2019
UncertainHoplodrina octogenaria2019
Pebble ProminentNotodonta ziczac2019
Bright-line Brown-eyeLacanobia oleracea2019
Beautiful Hook-tipLaspeyria flexula2019
Barred StrawGandaritis pyraliata2019
Peach BlossomThyatira batis2019
Green Silver-linesPseudoips prasinana2019
White-pointMythimna albipuncta2019
Buff ArchesHabrosyne pyritoides2019
Broad-bordered Yellow UnderwingNoctua fimbriata2019
Common WainscotMythimna pallens2019
Treble LinesCharanyca trigrammica2019
LackeyMalacosoma neustria2019
Common EmeraldHemithea aestivaria2019
Privet Hawk-mothSphinx ligustri2019
Plain Golden YAutographa jota2019
Grey ArchesPolia nebulosa2019
Eyed Hawk-mothSmerinthus ocellata2019
Clouded SilverLomographa temerata2019
Dingy FootmanEilema griseola2019
Triple-spotted ClayXestia ditrapezium2019
Fan-footHerminia tarsipennalis2019
Heart & DartAgrotis exclamationis2019
Bordered StrawHeliothis peltigera2019
Coxcomb ProminentPtilodon capucina2019
Peppered MothBiston betularia2019
Buff-tipPhalera bucephala2019
Clouded BorderLomaspilis marginata2019
Poplar Hawk-mothLaothoe populi2019
White ErmineSpilosoma lubricipeda2019
Mottled BeautyAlcis repandata2019

🌿

Plants63 species

spring

2021

Hazel · Sycamore · Holly · Ash · Wood Speedwell +58

HazelCorylus avellana
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus
HollyIlex aquifolium
AshFraxinus excelsior
Wood SpeedwellVeronica montana
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana
Creeping Soft-grassHolcus mollis
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
Field-roseRosa arvensis
Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatata
Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum
Hedera helixHedera helix
Ground-ivyGlechoma hederacea
False-bromeBrachypodium sylvaticum
Soft Shield-fernPolystichum setiferum
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
Greater StitchwortStellaria holostea
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
GorseUlex europaeus
BeechFagus sylvatica
CleaversGalium aparine
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
Dog's MercuryMercurialis perennis
PolypodyPolypodium vulgare
RamsonsAllium ursinum
Enchanter's-nightshadeCircaea lutetiana
Bitter-vetchLathyrus linifolius
Early-purple OrchidOrchis mascula
BugleAjuga reptans
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
Water FigwortScrophularia auriculata
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
ElderSambucus nigra
Bush VetchVicia sepium
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
Rough Meadow-grassPoa trivialis
Goat WillowSalix caprea
Three-cornered GarlicAllium triquetrum
Field MapleAcer campestre
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
BrackenPteridium aquilinum
Yellow PimpernelLysimachia nemorum
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
CrocosmiaCrocosmia
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas
Hedge WoundwortStachys sylvatica
Wild StrawberryFragaria vesca
AlexandersSmyrnium olusatrum
Wood DockRumex sanguineus
Wood SpurgeEuphorbia amygdaloides
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
Red CampionSilene dioica
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Remote SedgeCarex remota
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris
Wood-sorrelOxalis acetosella

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Wikipedia · Parsonage Wood · CC BY-SA 3.0

Parsonage Wood

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🦉KYNOCH'S FORESHORENature reserve4.5 km→🌱Old Town GardensUrban park4.6 km→🌱Old Town GardensUrban park4.6 km→🦉KENWITH VALLEYNature reserve5 km→⛪St Helen's ChurchReligious grounds3.2 km→🌱Annery ParkUrban park4.3 km→

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