← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Sprucely Plantation

9 ha

BirdsWildlifeDogs

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome9 ha

Getting here

54.66965, -1.46881

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

🐦85+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Moorhen and Black-headed Gull
🐕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

🐦85+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Moorhen and Black-headed Gull
🐕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

Best for

8 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Mallard +82 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Mallard +82 more · last seen 2026

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Foraging

Good match

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Forest walks

Good match

Public woodland

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Syrphus, Common Darter, Migrant Hawker +1 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Syrphus, Common Darter, Migrant Hawker +1 more · last seen 2025

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

6 signed routes nearby · 15 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

Way of LoveWalking route

Named routeRegional walking route

Trimdon Parish Circular WalkWalking route

Named routeRound tripLocal walking route

Hardwick Park & Bishop's FenWalking route

Named routeRef 7Round tripLocal walking route

Historical Circuit WalkWalking route

Named routeRound tripLocal walking route

H100 - SedgefieldWalking route

Named routeRef 12Round tripLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

4 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Hardwick Park circular routeCycling route

Named routeRound tripLocal cycle route

Main RouteCycling route520 m

Named routeRef 1Length 520 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

N/ACycling route125 m

Named routeRef 1Length 125 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

N/ACycling route4.8 km

Named routeRef 1Length 4.8 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

49,573 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

49,573 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds48 species

winter

2026

Canada Goose · Coot · Gadwall · Lapwing · Teal +43

Canada GooseBranta canadensis
CootFulica atra
GadwallMareca strepera
LapwingVanellus vanellus
TealAnas crecca
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
MagpiePica pica2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Great TitParus major
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser
JackdawColoeus monedula
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
CurlewNumenius arquata2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
RedshankTringa totanus2025
ShelduckTadorna tadorna2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
SnipeGallinago gallinago2025
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025

🌿

Plants62 species

winter

2025

Bulbous Buttercup · Yellow-rattle · White Clover · Red-osier Dogwood · Celery-leaved Buttercup +57

Bulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosus
Yellow-rattleRhinanthus minor
White CloverTrifolium repens
Red-osier DogwoodCornus sericea
Celery-leaved ButtercupRanunculus sceleratus
HazelCorylus avellana
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
Marsh ArrowgrassTriglochin palustris
Glyceria fluitansGlyceria fluitans
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris
Forget-Me-NotMyosotis
Shepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastoris
Wild TeaselDipsacus fullonum
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
HollyIlex aquifolium
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata
YewTaxus baccata
Hairy SedgeCarex hirta
Common VetchVicia sativa
Branched Bur-reedSparganium erectum
Common SallowSalix cinerea
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
Cut-leaved Crane's-billGeranium dissectum
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis
TimothyPhleum pratense
Wood-RushLuzula
Hard RushJuncus inflexus
WatercressNasturtium officinale
Red CloverTrifolium pratense
CleaversGalium aparine
Sharp-flowered RushJuncus acutiflorus
Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera
Wild CherryPrunus avium
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
Malus sylvestrisMalus sylvestris
Compact RushJuncus conglomeratus
BulrushTypha latifolia
Marsh ThistleCirsium palustre
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum
Common ChickweedStellaria media
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Wavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosa
Marsh OrchidDactylorhiza
Guelder-roseViburnum opulus
White Dead-nettleLamium album
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata
BrooklimeVeronica beccabunga
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula
Creeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptans
Black MedickMedicago lupulina
Bog StitchwortStellaria alsine
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
Festuca rubraFestuca rubra
Wall-rueAsplenium ruta-muraria
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
BrambleRubus fruticosus
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutum

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

49,573 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds48 species

winter

2026

Canada Goose · Coot · Gadwall · Lapwing · Teal +43

Canada GooseBranta canadensis
CootFulica atra
GadwallMareca strepera
LapwingVanellus vanellus
TealAnas crecca
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
MagpiePica pica2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Great TitParus major
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser
JackdawColoeus monedula
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
CurlewNumenius arquata2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
BuzzardButeo buteo2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
RedshankTringa totanus2025
ShelduckTadorna tadorna2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2025
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2025
SnipeGallinago gallinago2025
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025

🌿

Plants62 species

winter

2025

Bulbous Buttercup · Yellow-rattle · White Clover · Red-osier Dogwood · Celery-leaved Buttercup +57

Bulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosus
Yellow-rattleRhinanthus minor
White CloverTrifolium repens
Red-osier DogwoodCornus sericea
Celery-leaved ButtercupRanunculus sceleratus
HazelCorylus avellana
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
Marsh ArrowgrassTriglochin palustris
Glyceria fluitansGlyceria fluitans
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris
Forget-Me-NotMyosotis
Shepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastoris
Wild TeaselDipsacus fullonum
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
HollyIlex aquifolium
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata
YewTaxus baccata
Hairy SedgeCarex hirta
Common VetchVicia sativa
Branched Bur-reedSparganium erectum
Common SallowSalix cinerea
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
Cut-leaved Crane's-billGeranium dissectum
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis
TimothyPhleum pratense
Wood-RushLuzula
Hard RushJuncus inflexus
WatercressNasturtium officinale
Red CloverTrifolium pratense
CleaversGalium aparine
Sharp-flowered RushJuncus acutiflorus
Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera
Wild CherryPrunus avium
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
Malus sylvestrisMalus sylvestris
Compact RushJuncus conglomeratus
BulrushTypha latifolia
Marsh ThistleCirsium palustre
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum
Common ChickweedStellaria media
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Wavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosa
Marsh OrchidDactylorhiza
Guelder-roseViburnum opulus
White Dead-nettleLamium album
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata
BrooklimeVeronica beccabunga
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula
Creeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptans
Black MedickMedicago lupulina
Bog StitchwortStellaria alsine
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
Festuca rubraFestuca rubra
Wall-rueAsplenium ruta-muraria
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
BrambleRubus fruticosus
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutum

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Les Hull · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Footpath alongside Sprucely Plantation

1 / 21

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

🏞️HARDWICK HALL - DURHAMCountry park1.5 km→✦HARDWICK PARKHistoric site1.6 km→🌱Hardwick ParkUrban park1.6 km→✦Middleham CastleHistoric site1.7 km→✦Middleham CastleHistoric site1.7 km→🌱Trimdon Millennium GreenUrban park4.1 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: ec392089-39a7-4ddd-a9ea-186fa74ca745