Wonderful woodlands and where to see them

Wonderful woodlands and where to see them

Discover the best of Yorkshire's wild woodlands; whether you're searching for bluebells in spring, the oranges and yellows of autumn leaves, finding fungi or planning the perfect woodland wander.

Planning to visit our woodlands by public transport? Check out our accessible reserves!

Reserves accessible by public transport

North Yorkshire

Spanning from the North Sea to the very edge of the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire has a wealth of beautiful woodlands to enjoy - from glorious autumn colour and fungi at Grass Wood and Little Beck Wood to incredible views at Garbutt Wood, and even the rainforest of Park Gill...

Autumn trees at Grass Wood nature reserve

Telling our story volunteer, Sara

Grass Wood nature reserve

for incredible autumn colour...

Find out more here
View from a high hilltop nature reserve looking down onto the lake below. It's a sunny day with little cloud in a blue sky.

Garbutt Wood lake view (c) Amy Cooper

Garbutt Wood nature reserve

for the finest view in England...

Find out more here
View of the woodland canopy from high up on the path within the woodlands. The trees have autumnal colours.

Little Beck Wood nature reserve

for the perfect autumnal wander...

Find out more here
A blue stream cuts between two hillsides, with small and old trees scattered along its banks.

(c) Sara Photography Volunteer

Park Gill nature reserve

for rainforest hopes for the future...

Find out more here

East Yorkshire

There are some wonderful woodlands to enjoy in East Yorkshire as it dips slowly down towards the coast - spanning from the urban centre of York to much wilder and mysterious delights. From Askham Bog and Moorlands, the perfect jumping off point for little explorers, to North Cliffe Wood's famous bluebell displays, we have something for everyone.

An autumnal day at Moorlands nature reserve. Photo by Clare Usher

(C) Clare Usher

Moorlands nature reserve

for family adventures and bright spring colour...

Find out more here
Bluebells in a woodland

(c) Bluebells in North Cliffe Wood - Andrew Locking

North Cliffe Wood nature reserve

for jaw-dropping bluebell displays...

Find out more here
image of the boardwalk

Askham Bog nature reserve

for where it all began...

Find out more here

West Yorkshire

Particularly wonderful for woodland wildflowers, West Yorkshire has some real wild woodland gems - most of which are only a hop, skip and jump from the nearest bus route. From the rampant spring wild garlic displays of Stoneycliffe and Hetchell Wood to the kingfishers of Adel Dam, there really is something for everyone...

An orange carpet of leaves with a spreading green canopy overhead, and a large beech tree off to the right.

Hetchell Wood nature reserve

for a pungent springtime adventure...

Find out more here
A carpet of white-headed wild garlic spreads out beneath green trees

Stoneycliffe Wood nature reserve

for the perfectly quintessential woodland...

Find out more here
A huge and twisting tree canopy arches over a woodland path

Hollinhurst Wood nature reserve

for autumn fields of fungi and purple flowers...

Find out more here
entrance to a nature reserve there's a sign to tell you where you are - it's a woodland setting eith leaf itter on the floor and trees all around. Up ahead is a human sized wood carving of a woodpecker and beyond is an undercover learning area.

Adel Dam nature reserve

famous for kingfishers...

Find out more here

South Yorkshire

Although many of our South Yorkshire nature reserves are wetlands, we have some rather lovely pockets of woodland perfect for a varied walk whatever the season - and the guarantee of spotting some wildlife.

Two people walking through a woodland

Matthew Roberts 

Potteric Carr nature reserve

for a wild full day out...

Find out more here
View of a grassland meadow with yellow flowers dotted through it and some trees in the distance.

Sprotbrough Flash grassland

Sprotbrough Flash nature reserve

for something new around every corner...

Find out more here

Teal footer image with white silhouette wildlife found in woodlands