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Polestead Wood

✦ Ancient woodland6 ha

📷 Andrew Abbott · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsForaging
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome6 ha

Getting here

53.15242, -2.48562

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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

Good to know

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

Best for

9 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — House Sparrow, Great Tit, Dunnock +66 more · last seen 2025; Birds — House Sparrow, Great Tit, Dunnock +66 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Plants — Hogweed, Ramsons, Hawthorn +13 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Himalayan Balsam, Bluebell, Cow Parsley +105 more · last seen 2017

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Small White, Red Admiral, Azure Damselfly +50 more · last seen 2022; Insects — Small White, Red Admiral, Azure Damselfly +50 more · last seen 2022

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

7 signed routes nearby · 2 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Dane Valley WayWalking route66 km

Buxton to Northwich

Named routeLength 66 kmRegional walking route
Cheshire Ring Canal WalkWalking route
Named route
Weaver WayWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Great English WalkWalking route
Named route
South Cheshire Market Towns TrailWalking route67 km
Named routeLength 67 kmRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

63 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Whitegate WayCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Route 551Cycling route
Named routeRef 551National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network Route 5Cycling route
Named routeRef 5National Cycle Network
Route 71Cycling route
Named routeRef 71Regional cycle route
Cycling the Salt RideCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Main RouteCycling route117 m
Named routeRef 5Length 117 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Polestead Wood Winding Hole

📷 Andrew Abbott · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Polestead Wood Winding Hole

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Rilshaw MeadowsUrban park4.3 km→🌱The King George VI Play AreaUrban park4.5 km→🌱Glebe Green ParkUrban park4.5 km→🌱Ways Green ParkUrban park4.7 km→🌱Ways Green ParkUrban park4.7 km→🌱Winsford Marina IslandUrban park4.8 km→

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