Wildlife at Twyford Wood
Kesteven Forest
Lincolnshire
England
Colsterworth is the nearest town or village.
OS Grid Reference: SK 947239
Twyford Wood is an interesting ancient woodland site. The wood was a second world war airfield, RAF North Witham, and still retains many military artefacts, including the wide open runways and the derelict control tower. After the war the airfield part of the wood was planted with oak and conifer trees. The grassland habitat is home to a regionally important colony of dingy and grizzled skipper butterflies. The butterfly reserves are managed by the Lincolnshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation.
The wood has a small car park and picnic place beside the A151.
Mammals: Fox, brown hare, rabbit, and grey squirrel are common here, together with fallow and muntjac deer. There are also badgers, voles, moles and mice. We have information about Fallow deer and Badger
Birds: Green and greater spotted woodpecker live in holes in the dead wood. In the summer months, grasshopper warbler, whitethroat, chiff chaff, blackcap and willow warbler can also be seen - or heard! There are also masses of wood pigeons. Turtle doves can still be heard trilling in the summer months.
Insects and reptiles: As for the butterflies, grizzled and dingy skippers, green hairstreak, small copper and small heath all make their home here. Glow-worms can be seen glowing on summer evenings, but the grass snakes and great-crested newts are rarely spotted.
Habitats: This is an ancient semi-natural woodland. There is limestone grassland habitat along the runway edges, with wild strawberry, dyer's greenweed and wild marjoram growing freely. The wood is good for fungi. There are two ponds.
How to get there:
Twyford is located 1 mile east of the A1 near Colsterworth village, on the A151.
Local Weather Forecast (Multimap)
Enter through:
Twyford Wood Car Park
Facilities:
Activities:
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You are free to enjoy walking along the World War II runways and feeder roads throughout the wood. |
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The concrete runways make for excellent all-weather cycle routes. |
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Horse riding is welcome in Twford Wood, but grassy rides and tracks may be very wet. |
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Other places to go in Kesteven ForestMorkery WoodCallan's Lane WoodRopsley Rise Picnic AreaBourne WoodsClipsham Yew Tree AvenueTemple Wood
Contact:
Northants Office
01780 444920
e-mail: northants@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
What's of interest
Twyford was once the site of a World War II airfield with associated structures and runways.
There are swallow-holes throughout the wood, especially in the south-eastern corner.
Did you know
Butterfly Conservation manage two reserves within the woodland in partnership with the Commission.
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