Garston Wood

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 such as toilets 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).
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Address
RSPB Garston Wood, Dean Ln, Sixpenny Handley, Salisbury SP5 5PA
Grid ref
SU003194
See our updates page to see which reserves are open.

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.

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