← Back🌲 Conifer forest

Sansom's Plantation

15 ha

BirdsWildlifeInsects

Free entryDogs welcome15 ha

Getting here

52.31615, 0.75715

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦96+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Mallard and Woodpigeon
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦96+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Mallard and Woodpigeon
🐕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

4 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Mallard, Woodpigeon, Black-headed Gull +93 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Mallard, Woodpigeon, Black-headed Gull +93 more · last seen 2026

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Volucella bombylans, Stable Fly, Common Darter +11 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Volucella bombylans, Stable Fly, Common Darter +11 more · last seen 2025

Free

Forest walks

Moderate match

Public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Icknield Way PathWalking route169 km

long distance footpath 169 km

Named routeLength 169 kmRegional walking route

Lark Valley PathWalking route

Named routeListed length 24 kmLocal walking route

Angles WayWalking route150 km

Named routeLength 150 kmRegional walking route

St Edmund WayWalking route

Named routeListed length 142kmRegional walking route

London to Walsingham - stage 06Walking route

Named routeRef LW06Local walking route

🚴

Cycling

14 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Wolf WayCycling route400 km

Named routeRef Wolf WayLength 400 kmRound tripLocal cycle route

Route 13Cycling route

Named routeRef 13National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route834 m

Named routeRef 13Length 834 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route576 m

Named routeRef 13Length 576 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route4.3 km

Named routeRef 13Length 4.3 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route760 m

Named routeRef 13Length 760 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Icknield Way Cycle TrailMountain bike route226 km

This is the off-road or mountain cycling route of the Icknield Way Trail.

Named routeLength 226 kmRegional cycle route

Wildlife to spot

46,656 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

46,656 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds100 species

spring

2026

Mallard · Woodpigeon · Black-headed Gull · Lesser Black-backed Gull · Greylag Goose +95

MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca2025
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
LapwingVanellus vanellus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
CootFulica atra2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
Great TitParus major2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
Red KiteMilvus milvus2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
WhitethroatCurruca communis2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
GadwallMareca strepera2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2025
Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
TealAnas crecca2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
MagpiePica pica2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Caspian GullLarus cachinnans2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
SwiftApus apus2025
CuckooCuculus canorus2025
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava2025
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
Black TernChlidonias niger2025
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2025
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatus2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
CurlewNumenius arquata2025
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2025
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2025
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2025
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2025
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula2025
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2025
Marsh TitPoecile palustris2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus2025
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2025
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea2025
RavenCorvus corax2025
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2025
AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta2025
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea2025
TurnstoneArenaria interpres2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
Cyanistes caeruleus obscurusCyanistes caeruleus obscurus2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025

🦌

Mammals6 species

spring

2025

Muntjac · Brown Hare · Roe Deer · Rabbit · Grey Squirrel +1

MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi
Brown HareLepus europaeus
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
StoatMustela erminea

🐝

Insects14 species

summer

2025

Volucella bombylans · Stable Fly · Common Darter · Black-tailed Skimmer · Syrphus +9

Volucella bombylansVolucella bombylans
Stable FlyStomoxys calcitrans
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum
Black-tailed SkimmerOrthetrum cancellatum
SyrphusSyrphus
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus
Meliscaeva auricollisMeliscaeva auricollis
Gorse ShieldbugPiezodorus lituratus
Cantharis rusticaCantharis rustica
EupeodesEupeodes
Volucella bombylans subsp. plumataVolucella bombylans subsp. plumata
Common CockchaferMelolontha melolontha
Acorn WeevilCurculio glandium
Dryophilocoris (Dryophilocoris) flavoquadrimaculatusDryophilocoris (Dryophilocoris) flavoquadrimaculatus

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

46,656 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds100 species

spring

2026

Mallard · Woodpigeon · Black-headed Gull · Lesser Black-backed Gull · Greylag Goose +95

MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca2025
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
LapwingVanellus vanellus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
CootFulica atra2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
Great TitParus major2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
Red KiteMilvus milvus2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
WhitethroatCurruca communis2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
GadwallMareca strepera2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis2025
Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
TealAnas crecca2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
MagpiePica pica2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Caspian GullLarus cachinnans2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
SwiftApus apus2025
CuckooCuculus canorus2025
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava2025
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
Black TernChlidonias niger2025
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2025
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatus2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
CurlewNumenius arquata2025
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2025
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2025
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2025
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2025
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula2025
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2025
Marsh TitPoecile palustris2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus2025
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2025
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea2025
RavenCorvus corax2025
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2025
AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta2025
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea2025
TurnstoneArenaria interpres2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
Cyanistes caeruleus obscurusCyanistes caeruleus obscurus2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025

🦌

Mammals6 species

spring

2025

Muntjac · Brown Hare · Roe Deer · Rabbit · Grey Squirrel +1

MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi
Brown HareLepus europaeus
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
StoatMustela erminea

🐝

Insects14 species

summer

2025

Volucella bombylans · Stable Fly · Common Darter · Black-tailed Skimmer · Syrphus +9

Volucella bombylansVolucella bombylans
Stable FlyStomoxys calcitrans
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum
Black-tailed SkimmerOrthetrum cancellatum
SyrphusSyrphus
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus
Meliscaeva auricollisMeliscaeva auricollis
Gorse ShieldbugPiezodorus lituratus
Cantharis rusticaCantharis rustica
EupeodesEupeodes
Volucella bombylans subsp. plumataVolucella bombylans subsp. plumata
Common CockchaferMelolontha melolontha
Acorn WeevilCurculio glandium
Dryophilocoris (Dryophilocoris) flavoquadrimaculatusDryophilocoris (Dryophilocoris) flavoquadrimaculatus