About the reserve

Ravensroost Wood is an ancient Woodland, full of interesting wildlife and history. You can walk into surrounding wildflower fields for a contrasting experience. To the east are Avis Meadow and Ravensroost Meadows, and to the north are Warbler and Distillery Meadows.

The wood’s northern section is a fine example of ancient woodland, meaning it has been continuously wooded since at least 1600AD. The South, was almost completely cleared from the mid-1600s to make way for agriculture, before being replanted in the 19th century. The Wild Service Tree, an ancient woodland indicator can be found here. In the past its berries were used to make alcoholic drinks.

Follow the surfaced path, known as the Jack Smith ride, through the wood until you come to the Shooting Hut. This historic structure was where coppice wood auctions used to be held. Lots of smaller rides criss-cross the woodland. There are 8 ponds dotted throughout the woodland. 

Ravensroost Wood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is fantastic for birds. Winter is a good time for foraging birds such as redwing and nuthatch. The tawny owls are at their vocal in December as they start to look for a mate. Great and lesser spotted woodpeckers can be heard drumming in Springtime. Visit in the early morning in May and hear a spectacular dawn chorus, listen to warblers, blackcap, wren and treecreepers singing to attract a mate. Bats, including pipistrelle and Bechstein forage at dusk and in autumn more than 450 species of fungi can be found here, such as the jelly brain fungus.

Adjacent to Ravensroost are also some wildflower-rich grasslands at Avis, Distillery and Warbler Meadows. Distillery meadows is a SSSI for the quality of the species rich hay meadow, where Marsh Fritillaries can be found fluttering amongst the grasses.