← Back🌲 Mixed woodland

Ridings Wood

3 ha

WildlifeBirdsInsects

Free entryDogs welcome3 ha

Getting here

53.60909, -1.49532

Open directionsv

Google Maps↗Driving directions Apple Maps↗Driving directions Waze↗Live driving navigation Google Transit↗Bus, rail or tram Apple Transit↗Bus, rail or tram

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

Best for

6 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Wigeon, Pochard, Shoveler +65 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Wigeon, Pochard, Shoveler +65 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Orthotylus (Litocoris) ericetorum, Red-legged Shieldbug, Box Bug +19 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Orthotylus (Litocoris) ericetorum, Red-legged Shieldbug, Box Bug +19 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Good match

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Seasonal nature

Good match

Plants — Elder, Hedge Woundwort, Ramsons +1 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Elder, Hedge Woundwort, Ramsons +1 more · last seen 2025

Free

Forest walks

Moderate match

Public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

6 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Barnsley Boundary WalkWalking route

Named routeRegional walking route

Walton 2Walking route

Named route

Wakefield WayWalking route

Named routeRegional walking route

Trans-Pennine Trail (Wombwell to Leeds)Walking route

Trans-Pennine Trail (Wombwell to Leeds spur)

Named routeRegional walking route

Dearne WayWalking route

Named routeRegional walking route

🚴

Cycling

37 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 67Cycling route

Named routeRef 67National Cycle Network

West Yorkshire Cycle RouteCycling route

Named routeRef WYCRRegional cycle route

Wakefield WheelCycling route

Named routeRef WheelLocal cycle route

Wonders of WakefieldCycling route

Named routeRef WoWLocal cycle route

Main RouteCycling route1.1 km

Named routeRef 67Length 1.1 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm

Main RouteCycling route30 m

Named routeRef 67Length 30 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface pavementslabs

Wildlife to spot

8,640 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

8,640 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds70 species

winterspringautumn

2026

Wigeon · Pochard · Shoveler · Carrion Crow · Woodpigeon +65

WigeonMareca penelope2025
PochardAythya ferina2025
ShovelerSpatula clypeata2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
Great TitParus major2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
CootFulica atra2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2025
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
Mandarin DuckAix galericulata2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
MagpiePica pica2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollis2025
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
PintailAnas acuta2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2024
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
Common TernSterna hirundo2025
SwiftApus apus2025
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis2024
Little OwlAthene noctua
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2025
GadwallMareca strepera2025
RuffCalidris pugnax2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
White-faced Whistling DuckDendrocygna viduata2024
TealAnas crecca2024
WhitethroatCurruca communis2024
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus2024
BitternBotaurus stellaris2024
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus2024
WaxwingBombycilla garrulus2024
RedwingTurdus iliacus2023

🦌

Mammals1 species

springautumnwinter

2024

Grey Squirrel

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis

🐸

Amphibians1 species

summer

2025

Common Toad

Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects22 species

summer

2026

Orthotylus (Litocoris) ericetorum · Red-legged Shieldbug · Box Bug · Liocoris tripustulatus · Ant Damsel Bug +17

Orthotylus (Litocoris) ericetorumOrthotylus (Litocoris) ericetorum2025
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes2025
Box BugGonocerus acuteangulatus
Liocoris tripustulatusLiocoris tripustulatus2025
Ant Damsel BugHimacerus (Aptus) mirmicoides2025
Graphopsocus cruciatusGraphopsocus cruciatus2025
Nettle GroundbugHeterogaster urticae2025
Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2025
Heterotoma planicornisHeterotoma planicornis2025
Eupteryx aurataEupteryx aurata2025
Kleidocerys ericaeKleidocerys ericae2025
Alebra albostriellaAlebra albostriella2025
Valenzuela flavidusValenzuela flavidus2025
Myrmica ruginodisMyrmica ruginodis2025
Phytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipesPhytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipes2025
Potato CapsidClosterotomus norwegicus2025
Phylus (Phylus) melanocephalusPhylus (Phylus) melanocephalus2025
Ulopa reticulataUlopa reticulata2025
Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii2025
Xylota sylvarumXylota sylvarum2025
Trioza urticaeTrioza urticae2025
Eupteryx urticaeEupteryx urticae2025

🌿

Plants4 species

springsummer

2025

Elder · Hedge Woundwort · Ramsons · Marsh-marigold

ElderSambucus nigra
Hedge WoundwortStachys sylvatica
RamsonsAllium ursinum
Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

8,640 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds70 species

winterspringautumn

2026

Wigeon · Pochard · Shoveler · Carrion Crow · Woodpigeon +65

WigeonMareca penelope2025
PochardAythya ferina2025
ShovelerSpatula clypeata2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
Great TitParus major2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
CootFulica atra2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2025
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
Mandarin DuckAix galericulata2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
MagpiePica pica2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollis2025
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
PintailAnas acuta2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2024
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
Common TernSterna hirundo2025
SwiftApus apus2025
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis2024
Little OwlAthene noctua
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2025
GadwallMareca strepera2025
RuffCalidris pugnax2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
White-faced Whistling DuckDendrocygna viduata2024
TealAnas crecca2024
WhitethroatCurruca communis2024
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus2024
BitternBotaurus stellaris2024
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus2024
WaxwingBombycilla garrulus2024
RedwingTurdus iliacus2023

🦌

Mammals1 species

springautumnwinter

2024

Grey Squirrel

Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis

🐸

Amphibians1 species

summer

2025

Common Toad

Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects22 species

summer

2026

Orthotylus (Litocoris) ericetorum · Red-legged Shieldbug · Box Bug · Liocoris tripustulatus · Ant Damsel Bug +17

Orthotylus (Litocoris) ericetorumOrthotylus (Litocoris) ericetorum2025
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes2025
Box BugGonocerus acuteangulatus
Liocoris tripustulatusLiocoris tripustulatus2025
Ant Damsel BugHimacerus (Aptus) mirmicoides2025
Graphopsocus cruciatusGraphopsocus cruciatus2025
Nettle GroundbugHeterogaster urticae2025
Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2025
Heterotoma planicornisHeterotoma planicornis2025
Eupteryx aurataEupteryx aurata2025
Kleidocerys ericaeKleidocerys ericae2025
Alebra albostriellaAlebra albostriella2025
Valenzuela flavidusValenzuela flavidus2025
Myrmica ruginodisMyrmica ruginodis2025
Phytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipesPhytocoris (Ktenocoris) varipes2025
Potato CapsidClosterotomus norwegicus2025
Phylus (Phylus) melanocephalusPhylus (Phylus) melanocephalus2025
Ulopa reticulataUlopa reticulata2025
Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii2025
Xylota sylvarumXylota sylvarum2025
Trioza urticaeTrioza urticae2025
Eupteryx urticaeEupteryx urticae2025

🌿

Plants4 species

springsummer

2025

Elder · Hedge Woundwort · Ramsons · Marsh-marigold

ElderSambucus nigra
Hedge WoundwortStachys sylvatica
RamsonsAllium ursinum
Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 JThomas · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Ridings Wood

1 / 15

Events & activities nearby

Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.

Bookable tours

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Betty Eastwood ParkUrban park3.8 km→🌱Carlton ParkUrban park4.2 km→🌱Rabbit Ings Country ParkUrban park4.6 km→✦Waterton Park, Walton, WakefieldHistoric site4.7 km→🌱Wilthorpe ParkUrban park4.8 km→🦉SECKAR WOODNature reserve1.9 km→

Own or manage this place?

Claim this listing to keep details accurate, add photos, and highlight what makes it special — free.

Claim this page

How was your visit?

How useful was the information on this page?

id: 631210cb-fb73-4b14-a938-96ce8c6760f7