Wissington ring ditch cluster
8 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife✦Heritage
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome8 ha
Getting here
51.96412, 0.85054
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦87+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Barn Owl and Nightingale
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦87+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Barn Owl and Nightingale
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Barn Owl, Nightingale, Raven +84 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
Free
🦉Wildlife
Very strong match
Mammals — Muntjac, Hedgehog, Grey Squirrel +15 more · last seen 2024; Deciduous woodland priority habitat
Free
Historic site with public access
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Stag Beetle, Banded Demoiselle, Red Admiral +97 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Nipplewort, Shining Crane's-bill, Common Ragwort +161 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km3 signed routes nearby · 29 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
St Edmund WayWalking route▾
Named routeListed length 142kmRegional walking route
Stour Valley Path part 2Walking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
Essex Way (Epping to Stratford St Mary)Walking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
19 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Highwoods RouteCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
South Suffolk Cycle Route A2 (Bures Loop)Cycling route▾
Named routeRef A2Regional cycle route
South Suffolk Cycle Route A3 (Boxford Link)Cycling route▾
Named routeRef A3Regional cycle route
Route 13Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 13National Cycle Network
NCN National Route 1Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United Kingdom 1Cycling route▾
Named routeRef EV12International cycle route
2 public paths nearby
Public paths
School Lanebyway open to all traffic · 892 m▾
Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 892 mSurface asphaltPath type: track
Photos
Constable, that's a Gainsborough: farmland at Wissington
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Wildlife to spot
7,572 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
7,572 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds47 species
springsummerwinter
2025▾
Barn Owl · Nightingale · Raven · Yellowhammer · Jay +42
- Barn OwlTyto alba2024
- NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- RavenCorvus corax
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- JayGarrulus glandarius2023
- PeregrineFalco peregrinus
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- SwiftApus apus
- HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Mandarin DuckAix galericulata
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
- MagpiePica pica2023
- Great TitParus major2023
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2023
- Turtle DoveStreptopelia turtur2023
- CuckooCuculus canorus
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2024
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2023
- RobinErithacus rubecula2023
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2023
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla2023
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris2023
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2023
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2023
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2023
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2023
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2023
- Stock DoveColumba oenas2023
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2023
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2023
- OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2023
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2023
- Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus2023
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2023
- KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2023
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2023
- Mute SwanCygnus olor2022
🦌Mammals4 species
wintersummer
2024▾
Hedgehog · Natterer's Bat · Daubenton's Bat · Brown Long-eared Bat
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2023
- Natterer's BatMyotis nattereri
- Daubenton's BatMyotis daubentonii
- Brown Long-eared BatPlecotus auritus
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
Stag Beetle · Common Red Soldier Beetle · Limnephilus lunatus · Scathophaga furcata · Banded Demoiselle +33
- Stag BeetleLucanus cervus2023
- Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva
- Limnephilus lunatusLimnephilus lunatus
- Scathophaga furcataScathophaga furcata2024
- Banded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendens2024
- Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
🌿Plants13 species
summerautumn
2025▾
Medick · Oxeye Daisy · Pedunculate Oak · Cornelian-cherry · Common Field-speedwell +8
- MedickMedicago sativa2024
- Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare
- Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
- Cornelian-cherryCornus mas
- Common Field-speedwellVeronica persica
- YewTaxus baccata
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
7,572 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds47 species
springsummerwinter
2025▾
Barn Owl · Nightingale · Raven · Yellowhammer · Jay +42
- Barn OwlTyto alba2024
- NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- RavenCorvus corax
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- JayGarrulus glandarius2023
- PeregrineFalco peregrinus
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- SwiftApus apus
- HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Mandarin DuckAix galericulata
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
- MagpiePica pica2023
- Great TitParus major2023
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2023
- Turtle DoveStreptopelia turtur2023
- CuckooCuculus canorus
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2024
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2023
- RobinErithacus rubecula2023
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2023
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla2023
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris2023
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2023
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2023
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2023
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2023
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2023
- Stock DoveColumba oenas2023
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2023
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2023
- OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2023
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2023
- Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus2023
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2023
- KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2023
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2023
- Mute SwanCygnus olor2022
🦌Mammals4 species
wintersummer
2024▾
Hedgehog · Natterer's Bat · Daubenton's Bat · Brown Long-eared Bat
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2023
- Natterer's BatMyotis nattereri
- Daubenton's BatMyotis daubentonii
- Brown Long-eared BatPlecotus auritus
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
Stag Beetle · Common Red Soldier Beetle · Limnephilus lunatus · Scathophaga furcata · Banded Demoiselle +33
- Stag BeetleLucanus cervus2023
- Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva
- Limnephilus lunatusLimnephilus lunatus
- Scathophaga furcataScathophaga furcata2024
- Banded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendens2024
- Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
🌿Plants13 species
summerautumn
2025▾
Medick · Oxeye Daisy · Pedunculate Oak · Cornelian-cherry · Common Field-speedwell +8
- MedickMedicago sativa2024
- Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare
- Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
- Cornelian-cherryCornus mas
- Common Field-speedwellVeronica persica
- YewTaxus baccata
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
2023
2023
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2023Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus202322-spot LadybirdPsyllobora vigintiduopunctata202322-spot LadybirdPsyllobora vigintiduopunctata2023Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinaxRose ChaferCetonia aurataRose ChaferCetonia aurataDark-edged Bee-flyBombylius majorDark-edged Bee-flyBombylius majorField GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus2023Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus2023Dark-winged BlackPachygaster atra2023Dark-winged BlackPachygaster atra2023Common Furniture BeetleAnobium punctatum2023Common Furniture BeetleAnobium punctatum2023Black-Kneed Apple CapsidBlepharidopterus angulatus2023Black-Kneed Apple CapsidBlepharidopterus angulatus2023Microcara testaceaMicrocara testacea2023Microcara testaceaMicrocara testacea2023Box BugGonocerus acuteangulatus2023Box BugGonocerus acuteangulatus202314-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata202314-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2023Green Dock BeetleGastrophysa viridula2023Green Dock BeetleGastrophysa viridula2023SphaerophoriaSphaerophoria2023SphaerophoriaSphaerophoria2023Chrysogaster solstitialisChrysogaster solstitialis2023Chrysogaster solstitialisChrysogaster solstitialis2023Ledra auritaLedra aurita2023Ledra auritaLedra aurita2023Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2023Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2023Closterotomus trivialisClosterotomus trivialis2023Closterotomus trivialisClosterotomus trivialis202324-spot LadybirdSubcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata202324-spot LadybirdSubcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata2023Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2023Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2023Athous bicolorAthous bicolor2023Athous bicolorAthous bicolor2023Cream-spot LadybirdCalvia quattuordecimguttata2023Cream-spot LadybirdCalvia quattuordecimguttata2023Deraeocoris (Deraeocoris) ruberDeraeocoris (Deraeocoris) ruber2023Deraeocoris (Deraeocoris) ruberDeraeocoris (Deraeocoris) ruber2023Plagiognathus (Plagiognathus) arbustorumPlagiognathus (Plagiognathus) arbustorum2023Plagiognathus (Plagiognathus) arbustorumPlagiognathus (Plagiognathus) arbustorum2023Donacia semicupreaDonacia semicuprea2023Donacia semicupreaDonacia semicuprea2023Anthicus antherinusAnthicus antherinus2023Anthicus antherinusAnthicus antherinus2023Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2023Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2023Cryptocephalus pusillusCryptocephalus pusillus2023Cryptocephalus pusillusCryptocephalus pusillus2023Scarce ChaserLibellula fulva2023Scarce ChaserLibellula fulva2023Hairy DragonflyBrachytron pratense2023Hairy DragonflyBrachytron pratense2023White-legged DamselflyPlatycnemis pennipes2023White-legged DamselflyPlatycnemis pennipes2023Ephemera vulgataEphemera vulgata2023Ephemera vulgataEphemera vulgata2023Creeping Thistle
Creeping Thistle
Cirsium arvense
Cirsium arvense
PennyroyalMentha pulegium2024PennyroyalMentha pulegium2024WeldReseda luteola2023WeldReseda luteola2023Darwin's BarberryBerberis darwinii2023Darwin's BarberryBerberis darwinii2023Wild TeaselDipsacus fullonum2022Wild TeaselDipsacus fullonum2022Cut-leaved Crane's-billGeranium dissectum2022Cut-leaved Crane's-billGeranium dissectum2022Lady's BedstrawGalium verum2022Lady's BedstrawGalium verum2022