About the reserve

Spring Wood Nature Reserve is now under management by The National Trust, who have taken over responsibility for both habitat management and visitor infrastructure. At this time the second bird hide is locked due to subsidence making it unsafe to use.

This woodland reserve is a beautiful sight in May, when bluebells carpet much of the woodland floor.

As well as a mixture of trees including birch, oak, ash and alder, the streams that run through the reserve create a different habitat, where golden opposite-leaved saxifrage grows in spring.

The trees provide nesting sites for many birds, including great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch and treecreeper. The older trees occasionally attract hornets, which may be seen hunting along the path.

During autumn you will see - or smell - several species of fungus, including stinkhorn, while the dying birch trees have birch bracket fungus.

From the hide, there are good views over the southern part of Staunton Harold Reservoir and in winter you will see many species of duck, including wigeon, shoveler, pochard and tufted duck. In muddy areas, look for the tracks of fallow deer.