Heartwood Forest
Nature Reserves, Country Parks & Beaches · St Albans, Hertfordshire
No reviews yet
Closed — opens tomorrow at 8am
🌳 Outdoor0–11–33–55–88–1212–16🌲 Woodland🆓 Free entry
What’s there
- Free parking
- Picnic area
Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.
Heartwood Forest is England's largest planted native woodland, created from former farmland on the outskirts of St Albans. The 347-hectare site combines three-quarters coverage of 600,000 native trees with pockets of ancient semi-natural woodland, wildflower meadows, grassland, hedgerows, a community orchard and an arboretum containing all 60 British native tree species. Wildlife is prolific: kestrels and barn owls nest here, purple emperors and small blues among numerous butterfly species, eight species of bat including the rare barbastelle, and birds such as willow warblers and hawfinches. Spring brings bluebells carpeting the ancient woodland floor. Waymarked walking trails lead through different habitats, with a short all-access surfaced loop from the car park. Bridleways welcome horses and cyclists; footpaths are for walking only.
Stuff to take with you
The things people wish they’d packed for a day out like this one.
- Wellies
- Refillable water bottleMost places will fill it for free.
- Snacks that survive a rucksackCheaper than the café, and buys you twenty minutes.
- Wet wipes
- Binoculars
- Flask of tea
- Torch
- Sit-upon mat
- Woolly hat
- Bibs
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