Rockingham Forest
Cambridgeshire
England
Peterborough is the nearest town or village.
OS Grid Reference: TF111025
Southey is a mixed woodland, with majestic oaks standing around the car park and picnic place. Tall, stately pine trees provide a backdrop to the picnic area, providing a cathedral-like entrance to the forest walks. The wood is in the Soke of Peterborough, and was once included in the medieval Royal Forest of Rockingham.
The recreation facilities are provided with support from Peterborough City Council.
Mammals: Fox, muntjac, fallow deer, grey squirrel, rabbit and hare can all be seen here, but you are less likely to spot the stoat, weasel, common shrew, bank vole, pygmy shrew, wood mouse and short-tailed vole! We have information about Fallow deer and Badger
Birds: The wood is great for the greater-spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, goldcrest and wren. Also we get buzzard, tawny owl, sparrowhawk and kestrel nesting here. All other traditional woodland birds, can be seen and heard as they go about their business. We have information about Red kite
Insects and reptiles: Brimstone, speckled wood, brown argus, common blue, green-veined white, meadow brown, large and small skipper and white-letter hairstreak are a few of the butterflies that are frequent visitors to Southey.
Habitats: Ancient semi-natural woodland, with areas of beech, pine, elm and oak, with hazel, blackthorn, elder, hawthorn, dogwood, guelder rose and wild privet understorey. There is a series of ponds which create a wetland habitat which amphibians enjoy.
How to get there:
Southey Wood is located on the minor road between the villages of Upton and Ufford, 7 miles west of Peterborough.
Local Weather Forecast (Multimap)
Activities:
Other places to go in Rockingham ForestFineshade WoodWakerley Great WoodFermyn WoodsBedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve
Contact:
Northants Office
01780 444920
e-mail: northants@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
What's of interest
There are several exotic trees here, so look out for the aptly-named snake-bark maple, and the shag-bark hickory. There is also Turkish hazel, and a number of very large wild cherry. The Corsican pine by the car park have been retained due to their stature and beauty. PLEASE NOTE: the car park will be open at weekends only from 9am - 4pm from 21st November onwards. The wood remains open at all times.
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