← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

St John's Wood

✦ Ancient woodland4 ha

ForagingBirdsInsects

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome4 ha

Getting here

51.82110, -0.07922

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦43+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Magpie and Blackbird
🌿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

🐦43+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Magpie and Blackbird
🌿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
🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat

Parking

Best for

8 activities

Foraging

Strong match

Plants — Hawthorn, Common Bistort, Meadowsweet +11 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Bird watching

Strong match

Birds — Magpie, Blackbird, Chiffchaff +40 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Magpie, Blackbird, Chiffchaff +40 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small White +58 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small White +58 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Himalayan Balsam, Yarrow, False Oat-grass +66 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Himalayan Balsam, Yarrow, False Oat-grass +66 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Strong match

Deciduous woodland priority habitat; Birds — Magpie, Blackbird, Chiffchaff +40 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

8 signed routes nearby · 11 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

Harcamlow WayWalking route

Named routeRef HARRegional walking route

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

Hertfordshire WayWalking route267 km

Long distance path

Named routeLength 267 kmRegional walking route

Hertfordshire Chain WalkWalking route

Not waymarked

Named routeRegional walking route

STOOP - Stevenage Outer Orbital PathWalking route

A 27 mile circular walking route around Stevenage

Named routeLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

43 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 61Cycling route34 km

Route 61 travels from Maidenhead to Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and Hertford before arriving near Hoddesdon.

Named routeRef 61Length 34 kmNational Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route13 m

Named routeRef 61Length 13 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route101 m

Named routeRef 61Length 101 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route78 m

Named routeRef 61Length 78 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm

Main RouteCycling route284 m

Named routeRef 61Length 284 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route45 m

Named routeRef 61Length 45 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

🐴

Horse riding

7 public paths nearby

Public paths

Gypsy Lanebyway open to all traffic · 1.1 km

Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 1.1 kmSurface groundPath type: track

Wildlife to spot

44,255 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

44,255 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds47 species

spring

2025

Magpie · Blackbird · Chiffchaff · Great Tit · Wren +42

MagpiePica pica
BlackbirdTurdus merula
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Great TitParus major
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
JackdawColoeus monedula
BuzzardButeo buteo
RobinErithacus rubecula
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
WhitethroatCurruca communis
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Stock DoveColumba oenas
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
NuthatchSitta europaea
Red KiteMilvus milvus
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
LapwingVanellus vanellus2024
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
Coal TitPeriparus ater
JayGarrulus glandarius
SwiftApus apus
GreenfinchChloris chloris
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri2024
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
KingfisherAlcedo atthis
RedwingTurdus iliacus
GoosanderMergus merganser
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2024
Barn OwlTyto alba2024
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2024
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus2024
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2024
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2024
DunnockPrunella modularis2024
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2024

🐟

Fish2 species

summer

2024

Bullhead · Stone Loach

BullheadCottus perifretum
Stone LoachBarbatula barbatula

🐝

Insects61 species

summerautumn

2025

Meadow Brown · Gatekeeper · Small White · Large White · Peacock +56

Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2024
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2024
Small WhitePieris rapae2024
Large WhitePieris brassicae2024
PeacockAglais io2024
Small HeathCoenonympha pamphilus2024
Holly BlueCelastrina argiolus2024
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2024
BrimstoneGonepteryx rhamni2024
RingletAphantopus hyperantus2024
CommaPolygonia c-album2024
Common BluePolyommatus icarus2024
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2024
Marbled WhiteMelanargia galathea2024
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2024
Brown ArgusAricia agestis2024
Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines2024
Small SkipperThymelicus sylvestris2024
Large SkipperOchlodes sylvanus2024
Grizzled SkipperPyrgus malvae2024
Banded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendens
Western Conifer Seed BugLeptoglossus occidentalis2024
Small CopperLycaena phlaeas2024
Essex SkipperThymelicus lineola2024
Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii
Long-winged Cone-headConocephalus fuscus
Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Hornet HoverflyVolucella zonaria
Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus
Closterotomus trivialisClosterotomus trivialis
Epistrophe eligansEpistrophe eligans
Carabus problematicusCarabus problematicus
Cream-streaked LadybirdHarmonia quadripunctata2024
Rhyzobius chrysomeloidesRhyzobius chrysomeloides2024
Eyed LadybirdAnatis ocellata2024
Limnephilus auriculaLimnephilus auricula2024
Rhamphus oxyacanthaeRhamphus oxyacanthae2024
Juniper ShieldbugCyphostethus tristriatus2024
Graphopsocus cruciatusGraphopsocus cruciatus2024
Halesus digitatusHalesus digitatus2024
Rhyparochromus vulgarisRhyparochromus vulgaris2024
Microplontus campestrisMicroplontus campestris2024
AnaceratagalliaAnaceratagallia2024
Aphrophora alniAphrophora alni2024
Chrysolina hypericiChrysolina hyperici2024
Water ScorpionNepa cinerea2024
Hesperocorixa sahlbergiHesperocorixa sahlbergi2024
Zyginidia scutellarisZyginidia scutellaris2024
Idiocerus lituratusIdiocerus lituratus2024
Ribautiana tenerrimaRibautiana tenerrima2024
Nysius huttoniNysius huttoni2024
Thistle Tortoise BeetleCassida rubiginosa2024
Sitaris muralisSitaris muralis2024
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus2024
Black-tailed SkimmerOrthetrum cancellatum2024
Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2024
Cryptocephalus moraeiCryptocephalus moraei2024
Harmonia axyridis form succineaHarmonia axyridis form succinea2024
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2024

🌿

Plants69 species

summer

2025

Himalayan Balsam · Yarrow · False Oat-grass · Ivy · Hawthorn +64

Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2024
YarrowAchillea millefolium
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
IvyHedera helix
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Common BistortBistorta officinalis
Stinking HelleboreHelleborus foetidus
Red BartsiaOdontites vernus2024
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2024
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria2024
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutum2024
Common NettleUrtica dioica2024
Hoary CinquefoilPotentilla argentea2024
Lesser StitchwortStellaria graminea
Yellow Oat-grassTrisetum flavescens
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
Lady's BedstrawGalium verum
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Common SallowSalix cinerea
Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare
White CloverTrifolium repens
YewTaxus baccata
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata
WalnutJuglans regia
BeechFagus sylvatica
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus
Common SorrelRumex acetosa
Creeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptans
Field MapleAcer campestre
Red ValerianCentranthus ruber
White CampionSilene latifolia
ElderSambucus nigra
Red FescueFestuca rubra
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
Smooth Hawk's-beardCrepis capillaris
Pyramidal OrchidAnacamptis pyramidalis
Yellow NoneaNonea lutea
Wild ClarySalvia verbenaca
Greater PeriwinkleVinca major
Reflexed StonecropPetrosedum rupestre2024
Common CalamintClinopodium ascendens2024
Ploughman's-spikenardInula conyzae2024
Hawkweed OxtonguePicris hieracioides2024
BalmMelissa officinalis2024
Carline ThistleCarlina vulgaris2024
Purple-loosestrifeLythrum salicaria2024
Water Forget-me-notMyosotis scorpioides2024
Water MintMentha aquatica2024
Marsh WoundwortStachys palustris2024
BrooklimeVeronica beccabunga2024
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2024
Wood AvensGeum urbanum2024
BrambleRubus fruticosus2024
Field BindweedConvolvulus arvensis2024
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2024
Upright Hedge-parsleyTorilis japonica2024
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius2024
Bulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosus2024
Water FigwortScrophularia auriculata2024
Yellow-wortBlackstonia perfoliata2024
Heath SpeedwellVeronica officinalis2024
Hound's-tongueCynoglossum officinale2024
Bee OrchidOphrys apifera2024
White StonecropSedum album2024
Common WhitlowgrassErophila verna2024
Yellow Feather-mossHomalothecium lutescens2024

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

44,255 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds47 species

spring

2025

Magpie · Blackbird · Chiffchaff · Great Tit · Wren +42

MagpiePica pica
BlackbirdTurdus merula
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Great TitParus major
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
JackdawColoeus monedula
BuzzardButeo buteo
RobinErithacus rubecula
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
WhitethroatCurruca communis
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Stock DoveColumba oenas
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
NuthatchSitta europaea
Red KiteMilvus milvus
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
LapwingVanellus vanellus2024
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
Coal TitPeriparus ater
JayGarrulus glandarius
SwiftApus apus
GreenfinchChloris chloris
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri2024
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
KingfisherAlcedo atthis
RedwingTurdus iliacus
GoosanderMergus merganser
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2024
Barn OwlTyto alba2024
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2024
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus2024
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2024
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2024
DunnockPrunella modularis2024
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2024

🐟

Fish2 species

summer

2024

Bullhead · Stone Loach

BullheadCottus perifretum
Stone LoachBarbatula barbatula

🐝

Insects61 species

summerautumn

2025

Meadow Brown · Gatekeeper · Small White · Large White · Peacock +56

Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2024
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2024
Small WhitePieris rapae2024
Large WhitePieris brassicae2024
PeacockAglais io2024
Small HeathCoenonympha pamphilus2024
Holly BlueCelastrina argiolus2024
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2024
BrimstoneGonepteryx rhamni2024
RingletAphantopus hyperantus2024
CommaPolygonia c-album2024
Common BluePolyommatus icarus2024
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2024
Marbled WhiteMelanargia galathea2024
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2024
Brown ArgusAricia agestis2024
Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines2024
Small SkipperThymelicus sylvestris2024
Large SkipperOchlodes sylvanus2024
Grizzled SkipperPyrgus malvae2024
Banded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendens
Western Conifer Seed BugLeptoglossus occidentalis2024
Small CopperLycaena phlaeas2024
Essex SkipperThymelicus lineola2024
Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii
Long-winged Cone-headConocephalus fuscus
Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Hornet HoverflyVolucella zonaria
Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus
Closterotomus trivialisClosterotomus trivialis
Epistrophe eligansEpistrophe eligans
Carabus problematicusCarabus problematicus
Cream-streaked LadybirdHarmonia quadripunctata2024
Rhyzobius chrysomeloidesRhyzobius chrysomeloides2024
Eyed LadybirdAnatis ocellata2024
Limnephilus auriculaLimnephilus auricula2024
Rhamphus oxyacanthaeRhamphus oxyacanthae2024
Juniper ShieldbugCyphostethus tristriatus2024
Graphopsocus cruciatusGraphopsocus cruciatus2024
Halesus digitatusHalesus digitatus2024
Rhyparochromus vulgarisRhyparochromus vulgaris2024
Microplontus campestrisMicroplontus campestris2024
AnaceratagalliaAnaceratagallia2024
Aphrophora alniAphrophora alni2024
Chrysolina hypericiChrysolina hyperici2024
Water ScorpionNepa cinerea2024
Hesperocorixa sahlbergiHesperocorixa sahlbergi2024
Zyginidia scutellarisZyginidia scutellaris2024
Idiocerus lituratusIdiocerus lituratus2024
Ribautiana tenerrimaRibautiana tenerrima2024
Nysius huttoniNysius huttoni2024
Thistle Tortoise BeetleCassida rubiginosa2024
Sitaris muralisSitaris muralis2024
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus2024
Black-tailed SkimmerOrthetrum cancellatum2024
Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2024
Cryptocephalus moraeiCryptocephalus moraei2024
Harmonia axyridis form succineaHarmonia axyridis form succinea2024
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2024

🌿

Plants69 species

summer

2025

Himalayan Balsam · Yarrow · False Oat-grass · Ivy · Hawthorn +64

Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2024
YarrowAchillea millefolium
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
IvyHedera helix
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Common BistortBistorta officinalis
Stinking HelleboreHelleborus foetidus
Red BartsiaOdontites vernus2024
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2024
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria2024
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutum2024
Common NettleUrtica dioica2024
Hoary CinquefoilPotentilla argentea2024
Lesser StitchwortStellaria graminea
Yellow Oat-grassTrisetum flavescens
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
Lady's BedstrawGalium verum
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Common SallowSalix cinerea
Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare
White CloverTrifolium repens
YewTaxus baccata
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata
WalnutJuglans regia
BeechFagus sylvatica
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus
Common SorrelRumex acetosa
Creeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptans
Field MapleAcer campestre
Red ValerianCentranthus ruber
White CampionSilene latifolia
ElderSambucus nigra
Red FescueFestuca rubra
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
Smooth Hawk's-beardCrepis capillaris
Pyramidal OrchidAnacamptis pyramidalis
Yellow NoneaNonea lutea
Wild ClarySalvia verbenaca
Greater PeriwinkleVinca major
Reflexed StonecropPetrosedum rupestre2024
Common CalamintClinopodium ascendens2024
Ploughman's-spikenardInula conyzae2024
Hawkweed OxtonguePicris hieracioides2024
BalmMelissa officinalis2024
Carline ThistleCarlina vulgaris2024
Purple-loosestrifeLythrum salicaria2024
Water Forget-me-notMyosotis scorpioides2024
Water MintMentha aquatica2024
Marsh WoundwortStachys palustris2024
BrooklimeVeronica beccabunga2024
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2024
Wood AvensGeum urbanum2024
BrambleRubus fruticosus2024
Field BindweedConvolvulus arvensis2024
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2024
Upright Hedge-parsleyTorilis japonica2024
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius2024
Bulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosus2024
Water FigwortScrophularia auriculata2024
Yellow-wortBlackstonia perfoliata2024
Heath SpeedwellVeronica officinalis2024
Hound's-tongueCynoglossum officinale2024
Bee OrchidOphrys apifera2024
White StonecropSedum album2024
Common WhitlowgrassErophila verna2024
Yellow Feather-mossHomalothecium lutescens2024

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Peter S · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Snowy field south of St John's Wood, Hertfordshire

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Castle GroundsUrban park2.9 km→✦Hertford Castle: a motte and bailey castle south of the River LeaHistoric site2.9 km→🌱Buryfield Recreation GroundUrban park3.1 km→🦉WATERFORD HEATHNature reserve800 m→🌱Hartham CommonUrban park2.1 km→✦POLES PARKHistoric site2.9 km→

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