← Back🌲 Plantation forest

Spencer's Wood

✦ Ancient woodland4 ha

BirdsWildlifeInsects

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome4 ha

Getting here

52.21242, -0.43720

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦74+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Carrion Crow and Woodpigeon
🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦74+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Carrion Crow and Woodpigeon
🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required

Good to know

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

Best for

8 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Blackbird +71 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Blackbird +71 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Drab Griever, Harlequin Ladybird, Western Conifer Seed Bug +48 more · last seen 2024; Insects — Drab Griever, Harlequin Ladybird, Western Conifer Seed Bug +48 more · last seen 2024

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Bee Orchid, Common Spotted-orchid, Pyramidal Orchid +44 more · last seen 2018; Plants — Bee Orchid, Common Spotted-orchid, Pyramidal Orchid +44 more · last seen 2018

Free

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Forest walks

Good match

Public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

1 signed route nearby · 15 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

North Bedfordshire Heritage TrailWalking route70 km

Named routeLength 70 kmRegional walking route

🚴

Cycling

3 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

National Byway (Beds)Cycling route

Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route

Route 7Cycling route

Named routeRef 7Local cycle route

Route HDC 7Cycling route

Named routeRef HDC 7Local cycle route

🐴

Horse riding

8 public paths nearby

Public paths

Cross End Lanebyway open to all traffic · 364 m

Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 364 mPath type: unclassified

Wildlife to spot

2,356 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

2,356 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds76 species

springsummer

2025

Carrion Crow · Woodpigeon · Blackbird · Chaffinch · Rook +71

Carrion CrowCorvus corone2023
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2023
BlackbirdTurdus merula2023
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
RookCorvus frugilegus
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2023
RobinErithacus rubecula2023
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2023
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2023
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2023
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2023
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2023
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2023
MagpiePica pica
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2023
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2023
JackdawColoeus monedula2023
BuzzardButeo buteo2023
DunnockPrunella modularis2023
Stock DoveColumba oenas2023
Great TitParus major2023
WhitethroatCurruca communis2023
CootFulica atra2023
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2023
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra2024
SwallowHirundo rustica2023
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2023
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2023
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2024
House SparrowPasser domesticus2022
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2022
GreenfinchChloris chloris2022
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2023
House MartinDelichon urbicum2023
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2023
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2023
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2023
JayGarrulus glandarius
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2023
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2022
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2023
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava2023
Greylag GooseAnser anser2023
Red KiteMilvus milvus2023
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2022
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2019
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2019
LapwingVanellus vanellus2023
Garden WarblerSylvia borin2018
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2023
SwiftApus apus2023
Mute SwanCygnus olor2023
Barn OwlTyto alba2023
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2022
GadwallMareca strepera2019
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2018
Coal TitPeriparus ater2018
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2018
NuthatchSitta europaea
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2024
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2023
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2023
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2023
CuckooCuculus canorus2021
RavenCorvus corax2019
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2019
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2018
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2018
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2017
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2015
Rock DoveColumba livia2015
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2015

🦌

Mammals6 species

springsummer

2023

Brown Hare · Muntjac · Rabbit · Grey Squirrel · Hedgehog +1

Brown HareLepus europaeus
MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2022
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2021

🐝

Insects51 species

spring

2024

Drab Griever · Harlequin Ladybird · Western Conifer Seed Bug · Pied Strider · Marked Dawn-treader +46

Drab GrieverDolerus nigratus2022
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2015
Western Conifer Seed BugLeptoglossus occidentalis2022
Pied StriderPachyprotasis rapae2022
Marked Dawn-treaderEmpria liturata2022
Vetchling NematineEuura myosotidis2022
Excised Dawn-treaderEmpria excisa2020
Meadow Plant BugLeptopterna dolabrata
Harmonia axyridis form spectabilisHarmonia axyridis form spectabilis
Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella
Blue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans
Vestigial WeeperDolerus vestigialis2022
8-spot Dawn-treaderEmpria pumila2022
Red-legged Bramble-cutterMonophadnoides ruficruris2022
Red-belted CleaverAglaostigma aucupariae2022
Lichtwardt’s Grass NematineEuura lichtwardti2022
Bronze GrieverDolerus aeneus2022
Pallid Buttercup SawflyMonophadnus pallescens2021
Yellowhorn Sloe-borerHoplocampa fulvicornis2021
Small Blackthorn SawyerPristiphora monogyniae2021
Lesser Haw-borerHoplocampa pectoralis2021
Field Maple Disc-minerHeterarthrus wuestneii2020
Two-tone SawyerPristiphora biscalis2020
Pitted GrieverDolerus puncticollis2019
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata2019
Bloody GrieverDolerus haematodes2019
Flavous Nomad BeeNomada flava2018
Wayward SawflyTenthredo temula2018
Smoky GrieverDolerus fumosus2018
Variegated StriderPachyprotasis variegata2018
Broad-barred FusehornArge cyanocrocea2018
Anaglyptus mysticusAnaglyptus mysticus2018
Belted TigressAthalia bicolor2018
Hawthorn Mining BeeAndrena chrysosceles2017
Common Furrow BeeLasioglossum calceatum2017
Gwynne's Mining BeeAndrena bicolor2017
Chalk Furrow BeeLasioglossum fulvicorne2017
Grey-patched Mining BeeAndrena nitida2017
Small Sallow Mining BeeAndrena praecox2017
Green Furrow BeeLasioglossum morio2017
CommaPolygonia c-album2016
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2016
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2016
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2016
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2016
RingletAphantopus hyperantus2016
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2016
Lily BeetleLilioceris lilii2016
Holly BlueCelastrina argiolus2016
Grass RivuletPerizoma albulata2016
Large WhitePieris brassicae2016

🌿

Plants48 species

springsummer

2021

Early-purple Orchid · Bee Orchid · Common Spotted-orchid · Pyramidal Orchid · Groundsel +43

Early-purple OrchidOrchis mascula
Bee OrchidOphrys apifera2018
Common Spotted-orchidDactylorhiza fuchsii2017
Pyramidal OrchidAnacamptis pyramidalis
GroundselSenecio vulgaris2017
ElderSambucus nigra2015
AshFraxinus excelsior2015
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2015
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2015
ElecampaneInula helenium2020
Common TwaybladeNeottia ovata2017
Gymnadenia conopseaGymnadenia conopsea2017
Common Field-speedwellVeronica persica2017
White Dead-nettleLamium album2017
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata2015
Horse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanum2015
Traveller's-joyClematis vitalba2015
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2015
Red CloverTrifolium pratense2015
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2015
Wild TeaselDipsacus fullonum2015
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris2015
LimeTilia cordata x platyphyllos = T. x europaea2015
Bristly OxtongueHelminthotheca echioides2015
Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asper2015
Common Stork's-billErodium cicutarium2015
Black MedickMedicago lupulina2015
BoxBuxus sempervirens2015
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys2015
Dog-roseRosa canina2015
Common SorrelRumex acetosa2015
Field Forget-me-notMyosotis arvensis2015
White CloverTrifolium repens2015
Creeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptans2015
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2015
Hoary PlantainPlantago media2015
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris2015
IvyHedera helix2015
SnowdropGalanthus nivalis2015
Hairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsuta2015
DaisyBellis perennis2015
HollyIlex aquifolium2015
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2015
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna2015
Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum2015
Ground-ivyGlechoma hederacea2015
Common NettleUrtica dioica2015
Winter AconiteEranthis hyemalis2015

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

2,356 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds76 species

springsummer

2025

Carrion Crow · Woodpigeon · Blackbird · Chaffinch · Rook +71

Carrion CrowCorvus corone2023
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2023
BlackbirdTurdus merula2023
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
RookCorvus frugilegus
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2023
RobinErithacus rubecula2023
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2023
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2023
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2023
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2023
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2023
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2023
MagpiePica pica
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2023
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2023
JackdawColoeus monedula2023
BuzzardButeo buteo2023
DunnockPrunella modularis2023
Stock DoveColumba oenas2023
Great TitParus major2023
WhitethroatCurruca communis2023
CootFulica atra2023
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2023
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra2024
SwallowHirundo rustica2023
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2023
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2023
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2024
House SparrowPasser domesticus2022
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2022
GreenfinchChloris chloris2022
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2023
House MartinDelichon urbicum2023
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2023
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2023
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2023
JayGarrulus glandarius
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2023
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2022
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2023
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava2023
Greylag GooseAnser anser2023
Red KiteMilvus milvus2023
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2022
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2019
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2019
LapwingVanellus vanellus2023
Garden WarblerSylvia borin2018
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2023
SwiftApus apus2023
Mute SwanCygnus olor2023
Barn OwlTyto alba2023
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2022
GadwallMareca strepera2019
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2018
Coal TitPeriparus ater2018
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2018
NuthatchSitta europaea
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2024
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2023
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2023
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2023
CuckooCuculus canorus2021
RavenCorvus corax2019
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2019
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2018
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2018
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2017
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2015
Rock DoveColumba livia2015
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2015

🦌

Mammals6 species

springsummer

2023

Brown Hare · Muntjac · Rabbit · Grey Squirrel · Hedgehog +1

Brown HareLepus europaeus
MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2022
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2021

🐝

Insects51 species

spring

2024

Drab Griever · Harlequin Ladybird · Western Conifer Seed Bug · Pied Strider · Marked Dawn-treader +46

Drab GrieverDolerus nigratus2022
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2015
Western Conifer Seed BugLeptoglossus occidentalis2022
Pied StriderPachyprotasis rapae2022
Marked Dawn-treaderEmpria liturata2022
Vetchling NematineEuura myosotidis2022
Excised Dawn-treaderEmpria excisa2020
Meadow Plant BugLeptopterna dolabrata
Harmonia axyridis form spectabilisHarmonia axyridis form spectabilis
Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella
Blue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans
Vestigial WeeperDolerus vestigialis2022
8-spot Dawn-treaderEmpria pumila2022
Red-legged Bramble-cutterMonophadnoides ruficruris2022
Red-belted CleaverAglaostigma aucupariae2022
Lichtwardt’s Grass NematineEuura lichtwardti2022
Bronze GrieverDolerus aeneus2022
Pallid Buttercup SawflyMonophadnus pallescens2021
Yellowhorn Sloe-borerHoplocampa fulvicornis2021
Small Blackthorn SawyerPristiphora monogyniae2021
Lesser Haw-borerHoplocampa pectoralis2021
Field Maple Disc-minerHeterarthrus wuestneii2020
Two-tone SawyerPristiphora biscalis2020
Pitted GrieverDolerus puncticollis2019
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata2019
Bloody GrieverDolerus haematodes2019
Flavous Nomad BeeNomada flava2018
Wayward SawflyTenthredo temula2018
Smoky GrieverDolerus fumosus2018
Variegated StriderPachyprotasis variegata2018
Broad-barred FusehornArge cyanocrocea2018
Anaglyptus mysticusAnaglyptus mysticus2018
Belted TigressAthalia bicolor2018
Hawthorn Mining BeeAndrena chrysosceles2017
Common Furrow BeeLasioglossum calceatum2017
Gwynne's Mining BeeAndrena bicolor2017
Chalk Furrow BeeLasioglossum fulvicorne2017
Grey-patched Mining BeeAndrena nitida2017
Small Sallow Mining BeeAndrena praecox2017
Green Furrow BeeLasioglossum morio2017
CommaPolygonia c-album2016
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2016
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2016
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2016
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2016
RingletAphantopus hyperantus2016
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2016
Lily BeetleLilioceris lilii2016
Holly BlueCelastrina argiolus2016
Grass RivuletPerizoma albulata2016
Large WhitePieris brassicae2016

🌿

Plants48 species

springsummer

2021

Early-purple Orchid · Bee Orchid · Common Spotted-orchid · Pyramidal Orchid · Groundsel +43

Early-purple OrchidOrchis mascula
Bee OrchidOphrys apifera2018
Common Spotted-orchidDactylorhiza fuchsii2017
Pyramidal OrchidAnacamptis pyramidalis
GroundselSenecio vulgaris2017
ElderSambucus nigra2015
AshFraxinus excelsior2015
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2015
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2015
ElecampaneInula helenium2020
Common TwaybladeNeottia ovata2017
Gymnadenia conopseaGymnadenia conopsea2017
Common Field-speedwellVeronica persica2017
White Dead-nettleLamium album2017
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata2015
Horse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanum2015
Traveller's-joyClematis vitalba2015
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2015
Red CloverTrifolium pratense2015
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2015
Wild TeaselDipsacus fullonum2015
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris2015
LimeTilia cordata x platyphyllos = T. x europaea2015
Bristly OxtongueHelminthotheca echioides2015
Prickly Sow-thistleSonchus asper2015
Common Stork's-billErodium cicutarium2015
Black MedickMedicago lupulina2015
BoxBuxus sempervirens2015
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys2015
Dog-roseRosa canina2015
Common SorrelRumex acetosa2015
Field Forget-me-notMyosotis arvensis2015
White CloverTrifolium repens2015
Creeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptans2015
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2015
Hoary PlantainPlantago media2015
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris2015
IvyHedera helix2015
SnowdropGalanthus nivalis2015
Hairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsuta2015
DaisyBellis perennis2015
HollyIlex aquifolium2015
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2015
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna2015
Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum2015
Ground-ivyGlechoma hederacea2015
Common NettleUrtica dioica2015
Winter AconiteEranthis hyemalis2015

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Kokai · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦Manor Farm moated enclosure, fishponds and fowling earthworksHistoric site3.8 km→✦Bury Hill Camp: a motte and bailey castle with three fishpondsHistoric site1.7 km→✦Manor Farm Iron Age univallate hillfort and medieval moated enclosure.Historic site2.2 km→✦Yarl's Wood hermitage and moated siteHistoric site3.8 km→🌱North Brickhill Country ParkUrban park4.9 km→✦Mavourn moated site, with associated fishponds, enclosures and deserted settlement siteHistoric site700 m→

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