Old ParkWoodNature Reserve

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Protecting Wildlife for the Future

Respect wildlife.

Keep dogs under strict control.

Bring your binoculars and wear suitable

clothing for watching wildlife.

Take your litter away with you.

Keep to the footpaths.

Enjoying ournature reservesTo enjoy your visit please…

Protecting Old Park WoodOld Park Wood was once part of a much larger ancientwoodland. This vital habitat is looked after by theWildlife Trust but coppicing, restoring the pond andkeeping the paths open all take time and money.

How you can help us We need your support to continue to protect local wildlife.

Why not:

n Join as a member – The majority of our incomecomes from our membership. We need you!

n Volunteer – work parties take place in winter months,please contact us if you would like to get involved.

n Fundraise – get your workplace or school involvedand have fun raising money at the same time.

Visit our website to find out more

www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust Grebe House, St Michael’s Street, St Albans, AL3 4SN01727 858901 • info@hmwt.org Registered in England: 816710Registered Charity: 239863

Produced by Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust with funding from the City Bridge Trust.

Designed by Wildcat Design (wildcat1@ntlworld.com). Site map by Consort Design. Location map base by Location Maps LtdPU100029016. Photos by Les Binns: common blue damselfly; Jon Hawkins/Surrey Hills Photography: bumble bee (front cover);Charles Nathan: bluebells in Old Park Wood; Bruce Shortland: wood anemone; Steve Waterhouse: great spotted woodpecker

ref. 07/14

Watch out for...n Great spotted woodpeckersn Speckled wood butterfliesn Wildflowers in spring

Herts andMiddlesex

Take a walk around Old Park Woodand discover this reserve’s specialwildlife.

Old Park Wood is one of the most diversewoodlands in Middlesex with a fantasticdisplay of wildflowers in the spring. Thisancient woodland is designated a Site ofSpecial Scientific Interest because of thisdiversity of wildflowers.

Highlights include a carpet of bluebellsalongside many other woodland wildflowers such as lesser celandine and yellow archangel. The uncommoncoralroot bittercress also growsabundantly in the lower half of the wood.

This wealth of wildflowers attractsnumerous invertebrates which providefood for a huge number of woodlandbirds which live and breed here. A pondand stream in the lower part of the woodalso provide habitat for dragonflies,damselflies and amphibians.

Welcome to Old Park WoodNature Reserve

n Getting aroundSize: 7.7ha (19 acres).Wildlife Walk: Circular path around thewood with one set of steep steps andslope. 0.6 miles in length.

Surfaces: Unsurfaced path, uneven inplaces. Muddy in winter.

Protecting Wildlife for the Future

n Dragons and damselsLook down over the pond from the observationplatform to spot the dragonflies and damselfliesthat emerge in the summer months. You cantell whether you are looking at a dragonfly ordamselfly by the way it holds its wings whenperched. Dragonflies hold their wings open atright angles to their bodies whereas damselflieshold them together along their back.

Key

n Wildflowers In spring the wood is full of wildflowers.Look out for the bright white star-shapedflowers of wood anemone which growshere in abundance, especially in thecoppiced areas. By coppicing hazel,(cutting it down at the base), we open up glades to let in light allowing thewildflowers to grow, flower and seed.The hazel re-grows, providing cover and nesting sites for birds.

n Woodland birds Listen out for the chorus ofbirdsong in spring. The woodsupports many woodland birdsincluding robins, chaffinches,blackcaps and song thrushes. It is also home to all threeBritish species of woodpecker –the great spotted, green andlesser spotted woodpeckers.