Swing Gate Shaw - Woodland plantation
✦ Ancient woodland11 ha
🦉Wildlife🐶Dogs🍂Seasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome11 ha
Getting here
51.23168, 0.61533
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
- 🅿️Parking on site — 2 car parks within reach
🌤️ 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
- 🅿️Parking on site — 2 car parks within reach
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
- 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat
Deciduous woodland priority habitat; Ancient woodland
Free
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour
Free
🦅Bird watching
Strong match
Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km8 signed routes nearby · 2 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Oftord to Canterbury CathedralWalking route▾
follows North Downs Way from Otford to Broughton Lees
Named routeRegional walking route
Scenic Green Trail Stage 4Walking route12 km▾
Named routeRef SGT4Length 12 kmLocal walking route
Scenic Green Trail Section 7Walking route13.6 km▾
Named routeRef SGT7Length 13.6 kmLocal walking route
North Downs Way (Eastern)Walking route▾
Named routeNational walking route
Greensand WayWalking route▾
Named routeRef GWRegional walking route
8 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
NCN National Route 177 (Proposed)Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 177National Cycle Network
NCN National Route 17Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 17National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route321 m▾
Named routeRef 17Length 321 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route2.8 km▾
Named routeRef 17Length 2.8 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
Main RouteCycling route5 m▾
Named routeRef 17Length 5 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route1.8 km▾
Named routeRef 17Length 1.8 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
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id: a9a90b63-5218-4ff7-a944-9e680ff0a0d5
Wildlife to spot
4,623 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
4,623 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds45 species
springsummerwinter
2025▾
Pied Wagtail · Woodpigeon · Mute Swan · Jackdaw · Moorhen +40
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- CootFulica atra
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta2023
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca2024
- Greylag GooseAnser anser2024
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
- Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2024
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2024
- Great TitParus major2024
- KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- NuthatchSitta europaea
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2024
- SwiftApus apus2024
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2024
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2024
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
- MagpiePica pica2023
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2023
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2022
🦌Mammals11 species
springsummerautumn
2026▾
Grey Squirrel · Red Fox · Hedgehog · Rabbit · Wood Mouse +6
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes2025
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2025
- Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2022
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐝Insects11 species
springsummer
2025▾
Hornet Hoverfly · Hawthorn Shieldbug · Emperor Dragonfly · Asiraca clavicornis · Willow Emerald Damselfly +6
- Hornet HoverflyVolucella zonaria
- Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale
- Emperor DragonflyAnax imperator2024
- Asiraca clavicornisAsiraca clavicornis2024
- Willow Emerald DamselflyChalcolestes viridis2023
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
4,623 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds45 species
springsummerwinter
2025▾
Pied Wagtail · Woodpigeon · Mute Swan · Jackdaw · Moorhen +40
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- CootFulica atra
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta2023
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca2024
- Greylag GooseAnser anser2024
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
- Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2024
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2024
- Great TitParus major2024
- KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- NuthatchSitta europaea
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2024
- SwiftApus apus2024
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2024
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2024
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
- MagpiePica pica2023
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2023
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2022
🦌Mammals11 species
springsummerautumn
2026▾
Grey Squirrel · Red Fox · Hedgehog · Rabbit · Wood Mouse +6
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes2025
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2025
- Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2022
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐝Insects11 species
springsummer
2025▾
Hornet Hoverfly · Hawthorn Shieldbug · Emperor Dragonfly · Asiraca clavicornis · Willow Emerald Damselfly +6
- Hornet HoverflyVolucella zonaria
- Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale
- Emperor DragonflyAnax imperator2024
- Asiraca clavicornisAsiraca clavicornis2024
- Willow Emerald DamselflyChalcolestes viridis2023
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Speckled Bush-cricket
Speckled Bush-cricket
Leptophyes punctatissima2023
Leptophyes punctatissima2023
Hairy-footed Flower BeeAnthophora plumipes2023Hairy-footed Flower BeeAnthophora plumipes2023Stag BeetleLucanus cervus2022Stag BeetleLucanus cervus2022Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2022Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2022Parent BugElasmucha grisea2022Parent BugElasmucha grisea2022Wasp BeetleClytus arietis2022Wasp BeetleClytus arietis2022Events & activities nearby
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