Colwick Woods is a 50 Hectare site consisting of grasslands and ancient woodland that has a rich history and is situated within the Nottingham City boundary.
The Friends of Colwick Woods is a volunteer group whose aim is to protect & improve the woods for the Local Community. It works with the Nottingham City Council as well as other Community & Volunteer Groups.
Colwick Woods was designated as a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1995 and listed as a Local Nature Reserve in 2004. This site is particularly suitable for walking with a number of well maintained public rights of way paths spanning the woods. Colwick Woods also offers some panoramic views of the Trent Valley – as far as Belvoir Castle – and across the City.
The centre of the site is dominated by a former golf course, which is now managed as a playing field and wildflower meadow. The diverse ancient woodlands are characterised by ash, elm, oak, field maple and beech, with dog’s mercury and ivy dominating the ground. Historians believe that this site has been woodland since the early 1600’s, possibly longer, but is typical of those found along the steep land bounding the Trent Flood Plain in parts of the site. In addition parts of the woodland have also been closely associated with Colwick Hall as identified by an old Ice House found on the site.
We are currently in the process of updating this website, and most of our current news is to be found on Facebook at Friends of Colwick Woods Local Nature Reserve.
There is also a free to use audio storytelling guide that has recently been produced by Excavate and which is available at The Colwick Woods Audio Guide – Excavate
The trail brings the history and landscape of Colwick Woods to life over 24 tracks of stories, memories, and information told to you by a cast of 15 voices. You can choose to walk the whole route (taking around two and a half hours), take advantage of some short cuts (shaving off around an hour), walk the route in sections of your own choosing, or even just listen to it at home (although we wouldn’t recommend that). The walk is also accompanied by this map.
The group is only as good as its members – and so do please follow us on Facebook to see the different events we are running, including our regular litter pick sessions and our recently established Woodlands Watch – a community fire watch for Colwick Woods.
If you have seen any unusual plants, insects, birds or animals in the woods, please email focw.enquiries@gmail.com
Getting to the woods:
BUS – Colwick Woods is located 2.5 km east of Nottingham City Centre). The woods stand on the northern slopes of the Trent Floodplain, adjacent to the Bakersfield area of Nottingham. NCT bus No. 43 (Red line) is the most convenient public transport to the woods. The terminus for the No. 43 bus is on King Street, Nottingham. The No. 43 bus will stop on Greenwood Road, close to Harrogate Road for the central area. The No. 44 (Red Line) bus from Nottingham will stop on Colwick Road near the railway crossing.
WALK – There are 6 main access points which are all Public Rights of Way: Greenwood Road on the north of the site offers 4 access points. On the south of the site, Colwick Road to the west of Railway Crossing offers one access point. From Sneinton at the west of the site, access is from the top of Sneinton Boulevard adjacent to Nottingham Academy and the link path to Colwick Road.
CAR – Travel out of Nottingham City on Sneinton Road, onto Sneinton Dale, then turn right into Greenwood Road. Continue along Greenwood Road for approximately 500 metre, and Colwick Woods is situated on the right. The postcode for satnavs or AA Route Planner is NG3 7FS. You can park opposite the Nottingham Academy but please note that parking is not permitted between 1-2pm Monday to Friday.
REFRESHMENTS – The Greenwood Coffee Stop in the old bowling green opposite the Academy sell great coffees, cakes and sausage and bacon cobs. You can pay with a contactless card or with cash. You can find out more about their opening hours here.