Anna Daniels is a Reserves Officer at the Trust and looks after the Trust’s nature reserves in the west of our patch, as well as leading on the Cassiobury Park and Whippendell Wood project in partnership with Watford Borough Council. Anna enjoys the diverse range of habitats she works to protect and is particularly interested in birds, trees and fungi.

One of the reserves under Anna’s care, is Old Park Wood, an ancient woodland, which sits on the Hertfordshire and Middlesex border, a stone’s throw from Harefield Hospital. Let’s go on a wander with her and find out more about it.

Old Park Wood was listed in the Domesday Book as a breeding and hunting ground. A century ago, it was used by patients from the hospital to exercise as they recovered from Tuberculosis. The reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and supports Coralroot Bittercress, a rarity in both the UK and Hertfordshire, which grows in the damper areas of the site. It is thought that Old Park Wood has been continuously wooded since Saxon times and is dominated by Oak, Hazel, Silver Birch, Holly, Cherry, Hornbeam, Sweet Chestnut, Alder and Ash. At this time of year, the woodland floor is adorned by a spectacular carpet of Bluebells and birdsong fills the air.

Getting there

If you are arriving by car, park by the pond on Hill End Road. If travelling by public transport, you can catch the R1, R2 or U9 bus to Harefield Hospital, which is 0.5 miles away or the nearest train station is Northwood, 3.5 miles away. From Hill End Road, stroll down the road until you see allotments on your right and take the public footpath which runs alongside them until you see the entrance and sign for Old Park Wood. Previous visitors may be familiar with a circular route – please note that this is not currently accessible due to path closures for public safety during remedial work to trees affected by Ash dieback. From the sign you currently have a choice of two walks.

Walk one
(around 2 miles starting and finishing at Hill End Road)

As you enter the site, please be sure to keep to the perimeter path – this will protect the growth of Bluebells and leave breeding birds undisturbed. Immediately you will see signs of our tree safety work – as much wood as possible has been retained as habitat - Ash have been cut back to monoliths to remain as dead-standing wood, branches have been compiled into brash piles and log piles have been created – all resulting in fantastic deadwood habitats for a great range of invertebrates, fungi and other wildlife.

The path curves right into the wood and you’ll be met by the sight of tall Holly – during winter its berries will provide a valuable food source for birds, such as Redwings and thrushes.

Note how the Hazel has been coppiced to allow more light to reach the woodland floor. It’s a species that takes well to coppicing which encourages growth. Plants such as Bluebells and Wood Anemones will benefit from the extra light, whilst deer baskets ensure the vulnerable Hazel regrowth doesn’t get nibbled!

A bench provides a good place to sit and enjoy the view, take in the song of the Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit and Long-tailed Tit, listen to Jackdaws chattering or the drum of a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Walk on and notice delicate Hazel catkins, the fall of Crab Apples and look up to see Honeysuckle growing high in the trees. A tiny log bench provides a novel resting point for young walkers and an interpretation board provides more information about the site.

Carry on along the path until you reach a lookout over the pond to your left. Take time to enjoy the sights and sounds of this haven for damselflies and dragonflies, before heading back along the perimeter path towards the entrance point.

Walk two
(around 1.5 miles starting and finishing at Hill End Road)

At the entrance to the site, don’t turn into the wood but carry straight on along the footpath. This is the way to go if you want to see Coralroot Bittercress in the spring – a rare plant with delicate pale purple flowers.

The route for this walk is corralled by open fencing on either side – it provides a great opportunity to look down over the woodland as the path descends to the lowest part of the wood.

At the wooden bridge, look left to the collection of tall Alder trees, a sign of wet woodland. As you head further down the path, note the unique earthy, woody, mushroomy smells. Look out for the tree stump of the large felled Ash on your left, marvel at the colour and pattern formation in the woodgrain and, if you have patience, try counting the number of rings.

When you reach the sign at the bottom of the hill, take a moment to admire the velvety, bright green lichen before turning around. Now, the climb back up the hill begins – just see how the view changes in ascent.

We hope you can find the time to visit and explore the sights of Old Park Wood Nature Reserve. Enjoy these ancient woodlands and the wildlife that has thrived within them for centuries, plus you can explore the Trust’s other ancient woodland sites here. 

Preserving Bluebells on our Nature Reserves

It’s wonderful to see so many people enjoying the Bluebells on our nature reserves at this time of year, but please do so responsibly. In spring and through to the end of summer there’s a lot of activity in nature and many species are breeding, plus ground flora is easily damaged by people and dogs trampling. We can all help to lessen the impact on nature and preserve it for everyone to enjoy by simply sticking to marked paths, keeping dogs on leads and clearing up as we go. Together, we can continue to ensure that the beauty of Bluebells can be enjoyed for years to come.