About the reserve

Wildlife highlights

• Bluebell, wood anemone, wild garlic and primrose blooms cover the woodland floor from April.
• Enjoy the sweet-smelling scent of mezereon in early spring.
• Look out for nuthatch and treecreeper throughout the year.          

What makes Park Wood Nature Reserve so special?

Field maple is found here at the northern edge of its range alongside ash and oak, with hazel, holly and hawthorn forming the main scrub species beneath the canopy.

Spindle, crab apple and alder buckthorn provide an early source of pollen and nectar for bees and other insects, as well as a food source for many birds.

Residents include nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, woodcock and tawny owl.

Park Wood Nature Reserve also shares a colony of northern brown argus with Hutton Roof Common, and fritillary butterflies are seen along the woodland edge and rides, together with speckled wood.

Recent history

Park Wood is leased from Natural England.

Getting here

By car:

From Kirkby Lonsdale follow the A65 towards Kendal. After the petrol station turn left onto Gallowber Lane (signposted Biggins, Hutton Roof). Follow this road until you reach the village of Hutton Roof. Continue down the hill through the village until you come to a development (Lowther Court) on the right. Park in the layby at the entrance to Lowther Court.

By bicycle

The reserve is 7.3km/4.5 miles (approx) from Regional Route 90.

By public transport

Buses run from Kendal and Lancaster to Hutton Roof.