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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Shirley Heath

✦ Ancient woodland44 ha

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome44 ha

Getting here

51.36613, -0.02180

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • ☀️June — canopy now fully closed, creating cool dappled shade even on warm days
  • 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
  • 🅿️Parking 71m away — 20 car parks within reach

Good to know

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

Best for

10 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Magpie, Blue Tit +45 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Magpie, Blue Tit +45 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Speckled Bush-cricket, Common Darter, 7-spot Ladybird +15 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Speckled Bush-cricket, Common Darter, 7-spot Ladybird +15 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

13 signed routes nearby · 3 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Greenwich Meridian TrailWalking route440 km

A long-distance walk that follows the line of the Prime Meridian. Inaugurated in 2009, to coincide with the 125th anniversary of the Greenwich Meridian.

Named routeRef GMTLength 440 kmRegional walking route
LOOP link to Hayes stationWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Capital Ring link to Beckenham Junction stationWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Cudham Circular WalkWalking route

A rural route passing near to Down House, Darwin's home, and Downe village to which a diversion could be made. Passing near Biggin Hill airport on a ridgeline, it reaches the London LOOP coming into High Elms Country Park, finally ascending back to Cudham

Named routeLocal walking route
Vanguard WayWalking route111 km
Named routeRef VGWLength 111 kmRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

125 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 213Cycling route
Named routeRef 213Local cycle route
LCNCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
LCNCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
LCN 75 (parallel Croydon route)Cycling route
Named routeRef (75)Local cycle route
Route 212Cycling route
Named routeRef 212Local cycle route
Route (21)Cycling route

National Cycle Network link route - short linking loop around the Sports Ground / Oasis Academy Arena

Named routeRef (21)Local cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

5 public paths nearby

Public paths
Bridle Waybridleway · 311 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 311 mSurface asphaltPath type: residential

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Copse Avenue, Woodland Way junction

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Copse Avenue, Woodland Way junction

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Norman ParkUrban park4.1 km→🌱South Norwood Country ParkUrban park4.2 km→🌱Croydon Road Recreation GroundUrban park4.3 km→🌱Park Hill Recreation GroundUrban park4.9 km→✦ADDINGTON PALACEHistoric site1.5 km→🌱Addington ParkUrban park1.5 km→

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