Budby South Forest

We are working hard to make our nature reserves safe and ready for our staff, visitors and wildlife. Many have now re-opened in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, although some facilities are not yet available. All our other reserves remain closed for now. Please see our COVID-19 updates page for the latest information (link below).

Address: RSPB Budby South Forest, Swinecote Rd, Mansfield NG21 9HN

Grid ref: SK627687

See our updates page to see which reserves are open.

Budby is the largest area of historic heathland in the Midlands, blended with ancient woodland. Nightjars, woodlarks and tree pipits make the most of the heath through summer. In winter, crossbills and flocks of siskins flit through the remnant pines and ghostly birch trees.

Plan your visit

Open at all times.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, but donations are very welcome.

Children: Free, but donations are very welcome.

Car park cost: Free

Facilities

Car park
Nature trails

Accessibility

Download full accessibility statement (PDF)

How to get here

By train

Mansfield Woodhouse Rail Station is 7 miles away - a 40 minute cycle, or 20 minute taxi ride.

By bus

Stagecoach buses operate around the area. From Nottingham City Centre, take the 'Sherwood Arrow' service to arrive at the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre in an hour. From Mansfield, take the 15A or 14 service to get to Edwinstowe village in 40 minutes.

By bike

National Cycle Route 6 runs along the western boundary of the National Nature Reserve.

By road

From Edwinstowe village high street, follow the signs to Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, heading north along Swinecote Road. Drive for half a mile past the Visitor Centre Car Park on your left - 200m from the junction you will find the pull-in that serves as the main car park for Budby South Forest.

If travelling along the A614 between Nottingham and Doncaster, take the turn off onto the A616 from Ollerton Roundabout, again following signs for the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre. Follow the road towards Worksop for a mile before taking a very sharp left turn onto Swinecote Road. The lay-by and entrance will be on the right after 200m.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

This reserve is home to vulnerable ground-nesting birds, such as nightjars and woodlarks that nest and feed on the ground through the summer months. These rare and amazing birds are easily disturbed by well-meaning people and inquisitive dogs which means they need our help.

The Open Access law is in place to protect these birds and requires dogs to be keep on a lead within the fenced areas during the breeding season between March 1 and August 31.

English Longhorn Cattle graze the heath through summer to help create the right conditions for the wildlife. Please keep your dogs under strict control around livestock. If you come across cattle blocking your path through grazing compartments, it is advisable to alter your route to give them a wide berth and keep your dog calm.

The public rights of way are exempt from the on-leads rule. Use the maps on the reserve signage to help you pick your route.

Outside of the breeding season and on the public rights of way, please be aware that the reserve is still home to a host of wildlife, ensure your dog is within sight and recall distance at all times and remember to clean up after them.

If you lose your dog or find a missing dog, please repot it to the RSPCA (0300 1234 999).

-14 degrees, Overcast

Contact Budby South Forest

RSPB Budby South Forest, Swinecote Rd, Mansfield NG21 9HN
chloe.ryder@rspb.org.uk
07718 248 953

What will you see?

Our star species

Nightjar

Linger until dusk to encounter this amazing bird between May and July

Tree pipit

In spring tree pipits migrate here to breed on our open heathland habitats.

Woodlark

Our earliest heathland bird to breed, listen to their melodious song from February.

Yellowhammer

In summer listen for the bright yellow males belting out their unmistakable song.

In spring, the heath bursts into life when male woodlarks begin their fancy wooing displays; parachuting from perch trees and filling the air with beautiful song from February. They are soon followed by springtime songsters chiffchaffs and blackcaps, with percussion provided by drumming great spotted woodpeckers in oaks overhead.

During the summer months, warblers and yellowhammers will be in full song; look for them perched atop the sunshine yellow flowers of gorse bushes. You might also catch sight of common lizards basking on sun-baked surfaces before scurrying off through bracken fronds and heather stems. Take a walk at sunset to hear the nightjars in June.

In September, the heather is a sea of purple. Migratory birds may be leaving for warmer climes but keep your eyes peeled for passing or overwintering species like whinchat and great grey shrike. In October, fungi of all shapes and sizes pop up in damp autumnal conditions.

The winter brings a magical quality to the whole heath. Look up to see crossbills feeding on the pine cones making distinctive 'chip, chip' calls, and watch amazing flocks of lesser redpolls and siskins.

About Budby South Forest

Habitat

Budby is an extraordinary blend of historic heathland and ancient woodland and wood pasture; a snapshot of a medieval landscape. Nightjars, woodlarks and tree pipits make the most of the large expanses of open heath through summer, along with scrub-loving yellowhammers, linnets and willow warblers. In winter, you can see crossbills, goldcrests and large flocks of redpolls and siskins flitting through the remnant pines and ghostly birch trees.

A range of butterflies and moths flutter through grassy expanses and glide along sunny rides through sunnier months. Common lizards take advantage of warm basking spots among the heather. Native red deer and rabbits help the English longhorn cattle graze the heath and grassland mosaic, creating a rich tapestry for the plethora of invertebrates that live here, like the black oil beetles, rare spiders and mining bees.

Conservation

While it is already an incredible place for flora and fauna, there is still much work to be done to help it thrive rather than just survive. The RSPB are proud to be working with partner organisations, local communities and resident experts to benefit the special wildlife of Sherwood and inspire the future custodians of the countryside.

Sometimes the work we do to manage the heathland can look a little bare at first. It will recover in time and be better in the long run for vulnerable wildlife which often needs very particular conditions. If you ever have questions about our work, please get in touch.

Partners

Thanks to Natural England.

Site information

Budby forms half of the Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve (NNR); home of Robin Hood and the Major Oak. Surrounded by forestry and farmland, and in the middle of a landscape steeped in mining and military history, the NNR is a snapshot of a medieval landscape that would once have covered the county.

Marshside

Lytchett Fields

Arne

Budby South Forest