🦉Wildlife🦅Birds🦋Insects
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome3 ha
Getting here
51.84532, 0.82209
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾
- 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
- 🐕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
- 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
- 🐕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
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🦉Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Free
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Mallard, Mute Swan, Woodpigeon +72 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Mallard, Mute Swan, Woodpigeon +72 more · last seen 2026
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Small White, Small Heath, Small Copper +51 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Small White, Small Heath, Small Copper +51 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km5 signed routes nearby · 3 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Colchester Orbital West BWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital West AWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital Spoke (West)Walking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Colne Valley PathWalking route37 km▾
Named routeLength 37 kmLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital South AWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
66 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
EuroVelo 2 - Capitals Route - part United Kingdom 8Cycling route▾
Named routeRef EV2International cycle route
Colchester Orbital CycleCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Garrison RouteCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
NCN National Route 1Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
Colchester Orbital Cycle Spoke (West)Cycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
NCN National Route 1Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
2 public paths nearby
Public paths
Caper Lanerestricted byway · 194 m▾
Public pathrestricted bywayLength 194 mPath type: track
Birch 39restricted byway · 129 m▾
Public pathrestricted bywayLength 129 mPath type: track
Photos

Birch, St. Peter's Church: Western aspect occluded by trees
Weather for this location
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Events & activities nearby
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Bookable toursWildlife to spot
8,481 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot
8,481 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds51 species
winterspringsummerautumn
2026▾
Jackdaw · Woodpigeon · Mute Swan · Little Grebe · Moorhen +46
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- MagpiePica pica2025
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
- GadwallMareca strepera2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- Great TitParus major
- RookCorvus frugilegus2025
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
- Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
- TealAnas crecca2025
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
- CootFulica atra2025
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta2024
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
- Rock DoveColumba livia2025
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
- JayGarrulus glandarius2025
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
- SwallowHirundo rustica2025
- SwiftApus apus2025
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
- Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinus2025
- DunnockPrunella modularis2025
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
- Larus argentatus argenteusLarus argentatus argenteus2025
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
🦌Mammals2 species
springautumnwinter
2025▾
Otter · Brown Hare
- OtterLutra lutra
- Brown HareLepus europaeus
🐝Insects17 species
springsummer
2025▾
7-spot Ladybird · Speckled Bush-cricket · Water Scorpion · Water Measurer · Ruddy Darter +12
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima
- Water ScorpionNepa cinerea
- Water MeasurerHydrometra stagnorum
- Ruddy DarterSympetrum sanguineum
- Indet. LadybirdCoccinellidae
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
8,481 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds51 species
winterspringsummerautumn
2026▾
Jackdaw · Woodpigeon · Mute Swan · Little Grebe · Moorhen +46
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- MagpiePica pica2025
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
- GadwallMareca strepera2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- Great TitParus major
- RookCorvus frugilegus2025
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
- Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
- TealAnas crecca2025
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2025
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
- CootFulica atra2025
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta2024
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
- Rock DoveColumba livia2025
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
- JayGarrulus glandarius2025
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
- SwallowHirundo rustica2025
- SwiftApus apus2025
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
- Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinus2025
- DunnockPrunella modularis2025
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
- Larus argentatus argenteusLarus argentatus argenteus2025
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2025
🦌Mammals2 species
springautumnwinter
2025▾
Otter · Brown Hare
- OtterLutra lutra
- Brown HareLepus europaeus
🐝Insects17 species
springsummer
2025▾
7-spot Ladybird · Speckled Bush-cricket · Water Scorpion · Water Measurer · Ruddy Darter +12
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima
- Water ScorpionNepa cinerea
- Water MeasurerHydrometra stagnorum
- Ruddy DarterSympetrum sanguineum
- Indet. LadybirdCoccinellidae
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Stag Beetle
Stag Beetle
Lucanus cervus
Lucanus cervus
Eupeodes lunigerEupeodes lunigerEupeodes lunigerEupeodes lunigerPeacockAglais ioPeacockAglais ioLarge Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphulaLarge Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphulaBanded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendensBanded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendensEmperor DragonflyAnax imperatorEmperor DragonflyAnax imperatorWillow Gall WeevilArcharius salicivorusWillow Gall WeevilArcharius salicivorusEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxGlow-wormLampyris noctilucaGlow-wormLampyris noctilucaCorynopteraCorynoptera2024CorynopteraCorynoptera2024Eupteryx vittataEupteryx vittata2024Eupteryx vittataEupteryx vittata2024