Garston Wood

In line with Government guidance on essential, daily exercise outdoors, our trails are open. We urge you to follow the legislation around non-essential travel and please visit your most local nature reserves and green spaces only. Please observe current guidelines on social distancing, face coverings, group sizes, hygiene and follow all signage on-site. See our Covid-19 updates page for the latest safety information (link below). Thank you for your support and understanding.
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
Address
RSPB Garston Wood, Dean Ln, Sixpenny Handley, Salisbury SP5 5PA
Grid ref
SU003194
See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

This ancient wood has been managed for centuries, creating a special place for some magnificent wildlife, including blackcap and marsh tit, colourful wildflowers and small mammals such as dormice. Enjoy a walk along the paths which criss-cross the wood and look for signs of badgers and fallow deer.

Plan your visit

Opening times

Open at all times.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free
Children
Free
Car park cost

Free

Facilities

  • Car park
  • Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

The nearest station is in Salisbury - from the bus station, take Wilts & Dorset 184 service to Sixpenny Handley (Roebuck Inn).

By bus

Catch the number 20 between Blandford Forum and Salisbury, the nearest stop is Roebuck Inn in Sixpenny Handley. It is a 1.5 mile walk from the bus stop. Walk south-east to Dean Lane and follow the road directions to the reserve.

By road

From Sixpenny Handley, take the Bowerchalk road (Dean Lane). Keeping right proceed for approximately 1.5 miles and Garston Wood car park will be reached on the left-hand side of the road.

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

Information for dog owners

We ask that dog owners keep their dog on a lead when visiting the reserve. Please pick up after your dog, take waste away with you and dispose of in a dog waste bin.

Group booking information

We welcome small group visits to Garston Wood. The reserve does not have any on-site staff to welcome the group, but there is a map in the car park.

The car park is small, and only able to accomodate eight cars, please consider this when bringing a group. For further details, please call the office at Arne on 01929 553360 or email arne@rspb.org.uk.

What will the weather be like?

14 degrees, Sunny day

Download

Network of paths to explore at Garston Wood. PDF, 54Kb.

RSPB Garston Wood map

Contact Garston Wood

What will you see?

Our star species

Nature spectacles

This ancient wood is at its best when its breathtaking carpets of bluebells, wood anemones and primroses are in bloom (mid-April to the end of May). 

Seasonal highlights

Visit Garston Wood in spring to see the wildflowers bloom before the leaves shade out the sun on the woodland floor. Listen to the birdsong from blackcaps, willow warblers and garden warblers.

In summer openings in the trees create pockets of sunlight attracting numerous butterflies, watch for the gliding silver-washed fritillary and the elusive white admiral.

As autumn arrives the colours of the woodland change and fungi sprout from the undergrowth.

Winter is when we carry out the coppice work, you might come across a party of volunteers hard at work. Flocks of fieldfares and redwings can be seen, and fallow deer will be feeding in the undergrowth.

About Garston Wood

Habitat

Garston Wood’s ancient woodland includes a large area of coppiced hazel and maple. Other habitats include oak woodland, scrub and mixed plantation, with important features such as glades, rides and deadwood. 

Conservation

Our work includes coppicing hazel every 10–12 years, thinning out taller forest, fencing to keep out deer and removing non-native trees. We are also reinstating areas of glade and ride by carrying out scrub management to clear some areas. We leave about a quarter of the site unmanaged. The ride and glade work will enhance parts of the woods for orchids and other flowering plants such as wood spurge the food plant of the rare drab looper moth. It's also beneficial for butterflies including silver washed fritillary and white admiral.

We monitor animal and plant life, including breeding birds, mammals, butterflies and vascular plants. We also compile and update species lists, survey under-recorded groups, and assist researchers who are using the reserve. Our findings help us to manage the reserve, and allow us to contribute to research projects elsewhere.

Site information

RSPB Garston Wood is a 33-hectare coppiced woodland reserve that sits in the Cranbourne Chase AONB. There are a number of working roads which give access around the site and a small 8-space car park.

Activities and events

Events

Sunday 31 January
Woodland Work Parties
Dorset
Wednesday 10 February
Woodland Work Parties
Dorset
Sunday 21 February
Garston Wood Winter Coppicing - NOT ADVISABLE DURING CURRENT LOCKDOWN
Dorset
Woodland Work Parties
Dorset
More events

You might also be interested in

Landscape view of reserve showing heather and water, Arne RSPB Reserve, Dorset.

Arne

 Arne remains one of the few places in the UK where all six of the UK's native reptiles can be found.
RSPB Giving Nature a Home Campaign

Red Alert

 1 in 4 UK birds are now on the Red List of Conservation Concern. This is an emergency for UK bird life.
RSPB Giving Nature a Home Campaign

Join us - legacy

 Become an RSPB member by signing up here.