Aldbury Nowers | Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust

A beautiful meadow alive with wildflowers and butterflies in the summer.

Location

Off Northfield Road

Tring

Hertfordshire

HP23 5QW

OS Map Reference

SP951129

Know before you go

Size

11 hectares

Entry fee

Free

Parking information

No official parking. Limited parking in layby of Northfield Road. The reserve is 0.2 miles along the track just before the layby (there is a public footpath arrow opposite the track). Additional parking is at the National Trust’s Pitstone carpark.

Grazing animals

Grazing sheep from October - March.

Walking trails

The Ridgeway National Trail links the two areas of the reserve.

Access

The reserve has some steep slopes and muddy footpaths and isn’t suitable for wheelchairs

Dogs

On a lead

No dogs in enclosures. In other areas dogs are permitted on leads.

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

April to August

About the reserve

Situated on the Chiltern escarpment, the warm south-west facing slopes of this reserve are home to a wonderful array of chalk grassland flowers. This habitat supports 30 different species of butterfly, making it one of the most outstanding butterfly habitats in Hertfordshire, as well as a great place to spot a range of solitary bees. The site contains one of the best remaining areas of chalk downland in the county and a very fine example of ancient ‘beech hanger’ woodland.

Seasonal Highlights
Spring: Blackcap, brown argus, dingy and grizzled skipper, garden warbler, orange tip.
Summer: Clustered bellflower, dark green and silver-washed fritillary, marbled white, meadow brown, ringlet, small blue, whitethroat.
Autumn: Comma, fieldfare, small copper, redwing.
Winter: Buzzard, goldcrest, nuthatch, red kite, treecreeper.

Habitat

Environmental designation

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Directions

Site entrance:The reserve is in two parts; accessible from the Ridgeway National Trail. The southern area can be accessed from Northfield Road while the northern area is a short walk from here and can also accessed by walking from Pitstone Hill.

Access by road: From Tring town centre take Station Road to Tring Station and Aldbury. Just beyond the railway bridge turn left onto Northfield Road.

Access by public transport
Bus: 387, Tring Station (0.5 miles).
Rail: Tring (0.5 miles).