← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Westcombe Coppice

✦ Ancient woodland16 ha

📷 Becky Williamson · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Free entryDogs welcome16 ha

Getting here

50.81198, -2.67298

Open directionsv

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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
🌿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

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿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

Best for

7 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Strong match

Birds — Blackbird, Kingfisher, Woodcock +36 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Blackbird, Kingfisher, Woodcock +36 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large White +32 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large White +32 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Good match

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Heritage

Good match

Ancient woodland — historic landscape

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

6 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Monarch's WayWalking route990 km

approximate route of Charles II's escape

Named routeRef MWLength 990 kmRegional walking route

Macmillan WayWalking route290 km

Named routeRef MWALength 290 kmListed length 461Regional walking route

River Parrett TrailWalking route80 km

Named routeRef RPTLength 80 kmRegional walking route

Frome Valley WayWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

Wessex RidgewayWalking route

Named routeRef WRRegional walking route

🚴

Cycling

11 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 26Cycling route

Named routeRef 26National Cycle Network

Frome Valley Cycle TrailCycling route

Dorset trail

Named routeRef FVTLocal cycle route

Main RouteCycling route1.3 km

Named routeRef 26Length 1.3 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route456 m

Named routeRef 26Length 456 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route493 m

Named routeRef 26Length 493 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route3.2 km

Named routeRef 26Length 3.2 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Wessex Ridgeway TrailMountain bike route

Named routeListed length 207km

Wildlife to spot

3,968 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

3,968 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds40 species

summerautumn

2026

Blackbird · Kingfisher · Woodcock · Goldfinch · Teal +35

BlackbirdTurdus merula2024
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
WoodcockScolopax rusticola2023
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
TealAnas crecca2023
RedwingTurdus iliacus2023
Marsh TitPoecile palustris2023
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2023
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2023
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2023
DunnockPrunella modularis2023
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2022
Great TitParus major
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2024
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
JackdawColoeus monedula2024
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2024
SiskinSpinus spinus2023
Water RailRallus aquaticus2023
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2023
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2023
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2023
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2023
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2023
NuthatchSitta europaea2022
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2022
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2022
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2022
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2022
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2022
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2022
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2022
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2022
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2022

🦌

Mammals3 species

springautumn

2024

Pipistrelle Bat species · Hazel Dormouse · Badger

Pipistrelle Bat speciesPipistrellus
Hazel DormouseMuscardinus avellanarius
BadgerMeles meles2023

🦎

Reptiles1 species

autumn

2023

Slow-worm

Slow-wormAnguis fragilis

🐸

Amphibians1 species

autumnwinter

2024

Common Toad

Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects32 species

summer

2025

Meadow Brown · Gatekeeper · Large White · Small White · Peacock +27

Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2024
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2024
Large WhitePieris brassicae2024
Small WhitePieris rapae2024
PeacockAglais io2024
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2024
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2024
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2024
Common BluePolyommatus icarus2024
RingletAphantopus hyperantus2024
Marbled WhiteMelanargia galathea2024
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2024
Large SkipperOchlodes sylvanus2024
Small CopperLycaena phlaeas2024
Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines2024
Holly BlueCelastrina argiolus2024
BrimstoneGonepteryx rhamni2024
Small HeathCoenonympha pamphilus2024
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2022
Clouded YellowColias croceus2022
CommaPolygonia c-album2023
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2024
Dark Green FritillarySpeyeria aglaja2023
Golden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltonii
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2022
Western Conifer Seed BugLeptoglossus occidentalis
Anoplotrupes stercorosusAnoplotrupes stercorosus2023
Silver-washed FritillaryArgynnis paphia2023
Cantharis nigricansCantharis nigricans2023
Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alni2023
Red-tailed BumblebeeBombus lapidarius2022
BumblebeeBombus2022

🌿

Plants125 species

summer

2024

Alder · Marsh-bedstraw · Water Mint · Pendulous Sedge · Hemp-agrimony +120

AlderAlnus glutinosa
Marsh-bedstrawGalium palustre
Water MintMentha aquatica
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula
Hemp-agrimonyEupatorium cannabinum
Red CurrantRibes rubrum
BugleAjuga reptans
Yellow PimpernelLysimachia nemorum
Wood-sorrelOxalis acetosella
Soft Shield-fernPolystichum setiferum
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrageChrysosplenium oppositifolium
Greater StitchwortStellaria holostea
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
CleaversGalium aparine
Marsh ThistleCirsium palustre
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata
Common SallowSalix cinerea
Great HorsetailEquisetum telmateia
Wood-sedgeCarex sylvatica
NipplewortLapsana communis
Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatata
Wood SpeedwellVeronica montana
Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
Guelder-roseViburnum opulus
AshFraxinus excelsior
Lesser Pond-sedgeCarex acutiformis
Lady-fernAthyrium filix-femina
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
BittersweetSolanum dulcamara
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
HazelCorylus avellana
Wood MilletMilium effusum
Enchanter's-nightshadeCircaea lutetiana
Remote SedgeCarex remota
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
ElderSambucus nigra
Dog's MercuryMercurialis perennis
Yellow ArchangelLamiastrum galeobdolon
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
Wood DockRumex sanguineus
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorus
BrambleRubus fruticosus
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
Atlantic IvyHedera hibernica
Wavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosa
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta
Hedge WoundwortStachys sylvatica
Water FigwortScrophularia auriculata
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
False-bromeBrachypodium sylvaticum
Three-nerved SandwortMoehringia trinervia
Field HorsetailEquisetum arvense
Red CampionSilene dioica
Wood Meadow-grassPoa nemoralis
Creeping Soft-grassHolcus mollis
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera
Purple Moor-grassMolinia caerulea
Scaly Male-fernDryopteris affinis
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Downy BirchBetula pubescens
Sitka SprucePicea sitchensis
Common Spotted-orchidDactylorhiza fuchsii
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
GypsywortLycopus europaeus
Hairy Wood-rushLuzula pilosa
HollyIlex aquifolium
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
Curled PondweedPotamogeton crispus
Ground-ivyGlechoma hederacea
Common ReedPhragmites australis
Fool's Water-CressHelosciadium nodiflorum
BrooklimeVeronica beccabunga
Smooth-stalked SedgeCarex laevigata
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Bog StitchwortStellaria alsine
Horned PondweedZannichellia palustris
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana
Hoary WillowherbEpilobium parviflorum
Rough Meadow-grassPoa trivialis
Reed Canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea
Lesser BurdockArctium minus
Giant FescueSchedonorus giganteus
Common DuckweedLemna minor
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata
BulrushTypha latifolia
Field Forget-me-notMyosotis arvensis
Nuttall's WaterweedElodea nuttallii
Floating Sweet-grassGlyceria fluitans
Greater Pond-sedgeCarex riparia
Clustered DockRumex conglomeratus
Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa
Ragged-RobinSilene flos-cuculi
BlackthornPrunus spinosa
Intermediate PolypodyPolypodium interjectum
Greater PlantainPlantago major
Broad-leaved WillowherbEpilobium montanum
Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum
Square-stalked St John's-wortHypericum tetrapterum
Hairy SedgeCarex hirta
Short-fruited WillowherbEpilobium obscurum
Broad-leaved PondweedPotamogeton natans
Small PondweedPotamogeton berchtoldii
Hesgen LwydCarex divulsa
Greater Tussock-sedgeCarex paniculata
Veronica anagallis-aquatica x catenata = V. x lackschewitziiVeronica anagallis-aquatica x catenata = V. x lackschewitzii
Dryopteris borreriDryopteris borreri
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata
MonkeyflowerErythranthe guttata
Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
Red CloverTrifolium pratense
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis
Jointed RushJuncus articulatus
Water-StarwortCallitriche
Common VetchVicia sativa subsp. segetalis
Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica2023

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

3,968 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds40 species

summerautumn

2026

Blackbird · Kingfisher · Woodcock · Goldfinch · Teal +35

BlackbirdTurdus merula2024
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
WoodcockScolopax rusticola2023
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
TealAnas crecca2023
RedwingTurdus iliacus2023
Marsh TitPoecile palustris2023
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2023
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus2023
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2023
DunnockPrunella modularis2023
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2022
Great TitParus major
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
BuzzardButeo buteo2024
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
JackdawColoeus monedula2024
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2024
SiskinSpinus spinus2023
Water RailRallus aquaticus2023
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2023
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2023
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2023
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2023
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2023
NuthatchSitta europaea2022
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2022
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2022
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2022
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2022
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2022
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2022
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2022
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2022
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2022

🦌

Mammals3 species

springautumn

2024

Pipistrelle Bat species · Hazel Dormouse · Badger

Pipistrelle Bat speciesPipistrellus
Hazel DormouseMuscardinus avellanarius
BadgerMeles meles2023

🦎

Reptiles1 species

autumn

2023

Slow-worm

Slow-wormAnguis fragilis

🐸

Amphibians1 species

autumnwinter

2024

Common Toad

Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects32 species

summer

2025

Meadow Brown · Gatekeeper · Large White · Small White · Peacock +27

Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2024
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2024
Large WhitePieris brassicae2024
Small WhitePieris rapae2024
PeacockAglais io2024
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2024
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2024
Green-veined WhitePieris napi2024
Common BluePolyommatus icarus2024
RingletAphantopus hyperantus2024
Marbled WhiteMelanargia galathea2024
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2024
Large SkipperOchlodes sylvanus2024
Small CopperLycaena phlaeas2024
Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines2024
Holly BlueCelastrina argiolus2024
BrimstoneGonepteryx rhamni2024
Small HeathCoenonympha pamphilus2024
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2022
Clouded YellowColias croceus2022
CommaPolygonia c-album2023
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2024
Dark Green FritillarySpeyeria aglaja2023
Golden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltonii
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2022
Western Conifer Seed BugLeptoglossus occidentalis
Anoplotrupes stercorosusAnoplotrupes stercorosus2023
Silver-washed FritillaryArgynnis paphia2023
Cantharis nigricansCantharis nigricans2023
Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alni2023
Red-tailed BumblebeeBombus lapidarius2022
BumblebeeBombus2022

🌿

Plants125 species

summer

2024

Alder · Marsh-bedstraw · Water Mint · Pendulous Sedge · Hemp-agrimony +120

AlderAlnus glutinosa
Marsh-bedstrawGalium palustre
Water MintMentha aquatica
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula
Hemp-agrimonyEupatorium cannabinum
Red CurrantRibes rubrum
BugleAjuga reptans
Yellow PimpernelLysimachia nemorum
Wood-sorrelOxalis acetosella
Soft Shield-fernPolystichum setiferum
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrageChrysosplenium oppositifolium
Greater StitchwortStellaria holostea
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
CleaversGalium aparine
Marsh ThistleCirsium palustre
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata
Common SallowSalix cinerea
Great HorsetailEquisetum telmateia
Wood-sedgeCarex sylvatica
NipplewortLapsana communis
Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatata
Wood SpeedwellVeronica montana
Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
Guelder-roseViburnum opulus
AshFraxinus excelsior
Lesser Pond-sedgeCarex acutiformis
Lady-fernAthyrium filix-femina
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
BittersweetSolanum dulcamara
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
HazelCorylus avellana
Wood MilletMilium effusum
Enchanter's-nightshadeCircaea lutetiana
Remote SedgeCarex remota
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
ElderSambucus nigra
Dog's MercuryMercurialis perennis
Yellow ArchangelLamiastrum galeobdolon
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
Wood DockRumex sanguineus
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorus
BrambleRubus fruticosus
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
Atlantic IvyHedera hibernica
Wavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosa
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta
Hedge WoundwortStachys sylvatica
Water FigwortScrophularia auriculata
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
False-bromeBrachypodium sylvaticum
Three-nerved SandwortMoehringia trinervia
Field HorsetailEquisetum arvense
Red CampionSilene dioica
Wood Meadow-grassPoa nemoralis
Creeping Soft-grassHolcus mollis
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera
Purple Moor-grassMolinia caerulea
Scaly Male-fernDryopteris affinis
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Downy BirchBetula pubescens
Sitka SprucePicea sitchensis
Common Spotted-orchidDactylorhiza fuchsii
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
GypsywortLycopus europaeus
Hairy Wood-rushLuzula pilosa
HollyIlex aquifolium
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
Curled PondweedPotamogeton crispus
Ground-ivyGlechoma hederacea
Common ReedPhragmites australis
Fool's Water-CressHelosciadium nodiflorum
BrooklimeVeronica beccabunga
Smooth-stalked SedgeCarex laevigata
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Bog StitchwortStellaria alsine
Horned PondweedZannichellia palustris
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana
Hoary WillowherbEpilobium parviflorum
Rough Meadow-grassPoa trivialis
Reed Canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea
Lesser BurdockArctium minus
Giant FescueSchedonorus giganteus
Common DuckweedLemna minor
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata
BulrushTypha latifolia
Field Forget-me-notMyosotis arvensis
Nuttall's WaterweedElodea nuttallii
Floating Sweet-grassGlyceria fluitans
Greater Pond-sedgeCarex riparia
Clustered DockRumex conglomeratus
Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa
Ragged-RobinSilene flos-cuculi
BlackthornPrunus spinosa
Intermediate PolypodyPolypodium interjectum
Greater PlantainPlantago major
Broad-leaved WillowherbEpilobium montanum
Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum
Square-stalked St John's-wortHypericum tetrapterum
Hairy SedgeCarex hirta
Short-fruited WillowherbEpilobium obscurum
Broad-leaved PondweedPotamogeton natans
Small PondweedPotamogeton berchtoldii
Hesgen LwydCarex divulsa
Greater Tussock-sedgeCarex paniculata
Veronica anagallis-aquatica x catenata = V. x lackschewitziiVeronica anagallis-aquatica x catenata = V. x lackschewitzii
Dryopteris borreriDryopteris borreri
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata
MonkeyflowerErythranthe guttata
Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
Red CloverTrifolium pratense
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis
Jointed RushJuncus articulatus
Water-StarwortCallitriche
Common VetchVicia sativa subsp. segetalis
Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica2023