Parndon Wood Nature Reserve
Parndon Wood - a place for nature and people.
Set on the southern outskirts of Harlow, Parndon Wood has
been recorded as a woodland for at least 900 years and therefore
can be termed as “ancient woodland”. The site was bought by Harlow
Council in 1968 to be turned into a Local Nature Reserve and in
1974, the reserve was also designated a Special Site for Scientific
Interest (SSSI) due to its flora and value as an educational
resource.
The wood is composed of a canopy of oak tree standards with
hornbeam trees growing beneath.
These have traditionally been coppiced (cut down to the base
and allowed to grow up again) every 10-15 years to make use of
the timber. This practise is still carried out, though more to keep
a diversity of habitats within the woodland and increase the number
of species to be found.
The reserve is also a haven for flora, fungi, birds,
minibeasts, small mammals and deer and is a beautiful and peaceful
place to wander whether on your own, with family of with friends
and visitors are more than welcome! You can follow our guided trail
or with points of interest and things to look out for or just enjoy
the surroundings. There are observation hides to sit quietly and
watch for deer or birds setting down by the ponds.
The trail is a wide, well marked path with gentle inclines,
though some may struggle during months when the ground is soft. A
fully accessible boardwalk and hide will soon be available
overlooking our new pond and dipping platform. We also have a fully
accessible conservation centre with toilets, meeting room,
laboratory, leaflets, displays and a reference library for those
who wish to know more.
For more information contact Darren
Fazackerley, Landscape & Biodiversity Manager
at:
Parndon Wood Nature Reserve
Parndon Wood Road
Harlow
Essex
CM19 4SF
Telephone: 01279-430005,
Winter opening times: 1st October – 31st
March
Sundays and Bank
Holidays
11am-4pm
Summer opening times: 1st April – 30th
September
Saturdays, Sundays and Bank
Holidays
9am-6pm
Tuesday
evenings
7pm-9pm
Extended opening hours are available during school holidays as
part of our Forest Funtasia Project. For more information
please contact us.
Organised group and school visits are always welcome with
prior arrangement both when the reserve is open or closed. We can
help to facilitate your event or run activities and field studies
through out new Forest Funtasia Project based at Parndon Wood.
For more information follow this
link.
We also run a variety of the events and provide
workdays for the Harlow Conservation Volunteers program, both
listed on the Wildspace! Web
page.
To view a copy of Octobers Wildspace
E-Newsletter follow this link:
Getting to Parndon Wood:
To get to Parndon Wood Nature Reserve follow signs for the
Crematorium. Continue straight past the Crematorium entrance and
use parking on the right. The entrance to the reserve is through
the green gates next on the right.
British Isles Nature
Reserves WebRing