RSPB - giving nature a home
Search
Close
Skip to content
Shop | Community
Log in | Sign up
  • About the RSPB
      About us
    • Our history
    • Our mission
    • How the RSPB is run
    • RSPB Media Centre
    • RSPB job vacancies
    • At home & abroad
    • International
    • England
    • Northern Ireland
    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • Get in touch
    • Contact us
    • RSPB offices
    • Connect with us your way
      Our activities
    • Gardening for wildlife

      Gardening for wildlife

      See our ideas to keep you connected to nature during coronavirus

    • Connect with us your way

      Connect with us your way

      From our regular emails to your favourite social media, there’s more than one way to keep in touch with nature

    • Martin Harper Blog

      Martin Harper Blog

  • Our work
      Nature conservation
    • Conservation and sustainability
    • Projects
    • Landscape scale conservation
    • Centre for Conservation Science
    • Satellite tracking birds
    • RSPB News
    • RSPB News
    • 'Our work' blog
    • Our positions and casework
    • Our positions
    • Casework
    • State of Nature report
      Featured news
    • Mindful mornings

      Mindful mornings

      If you can’t get outside, why not bring the outside in by downloading our bird song radio app?

    • How nature can help protect our homes

      How nature can help protect our homes

      Following the floods this winter, watch how one area is using nature as a natural protector.

    • Casework

      Casework

      Catch up with the RSPB’s own nature detectives on the case as they look to save some very special places.

  • Birds & wildlife
      Wildlife guides
    • Identify a bird
    • Bird A-Z
    • Other garden wildlife
    • Guide to birdwatching
    • UK conservation status explained
    • Nature's Calendar: January
    • Nature's Home magazine
    • About Nature's Home magazine
    • Birds and wildlife articles
    • RSPB Podcasts
    • Nature's Home blog
    • Advice
    • How you can help birds
    • Gardening for wildlife
    • Ask an expert
    • Wildlife and the law
    • How to report crimes against wild birds
    • Bird songs
    • Which bird song is that?
    • Most popular bird guides this month
    • Which bird song is that?

      Which bird song is that?

      Find out how to identify a bird just from the sound of its singing with our bird song identifier playlist.

    • Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird

      Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird

      Read more advice about what to do if you find a bird that needs help

    • In for a duck

      In for a duck

      It’s nesting season for our waterfowl too but what are the rules you need to follow for ducks, geese or swans?

  • Get involved
      Activities
    • Big Garden Birdwatch
    • Help nature at home
    • RSPB Competitions
    • Dolphinwatch
    • Community & advice
    • Join our local groups
    • How green are you?
    • RSPB Community
    • Get involved blog
    • Volunteering & fundraising
    • Volunteer
    • Fundraise
    • Help nature thrive as a corporate partner
    • Our grant funders
    • Campaigning
    • Climate change effects on nature and wildlife
    • Protecting wildlife sites
    • Campaign with us
    • Five actions to Revive Our World
    • Let nature sing
    • OxCam Arc
    • Top activities to do
    • Help nature at home

      Help nature at home

      Great ideas on how your garden, or even a small backyard or balcony, can become a mini nature reserve

    • How green are you?

      How green are you?

      See some of the ways you can get into green living.

    • Campaigning

      Campaigning

      See our toolkit for ways to campaign with us to protect nature and save wildlife.

  • Reserves & events
      Reserves A-Z Events, dates & inspiration
    • Events
    • COVID-19 information
    • Dates with nature
    • Places to visit blog
    • #ThanksToYou
    • Find a reserve
      Top reserve this month
    • Marshside

      Marshside

      This fantastic wetland site is located north of Southport town centre and has some of the best wildlife in the region.

    • Lytchett Fields

      Lytchett Fields

      The reserve has seen more than thirty species of wading birds.

    • Arne

      Arne

      Heathland home to more than 2565 species.

  • Fun & Learning
      For teachers
    • Supporting resources
    • Wild Challenge
    • School outreach visits
    • Big Schools Birdwatch
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • School trip ideas
    • For families
    • Big Wild Sleepout
    • Wild Challenge
    • Nature reserves for families
    • For kids
    • Fun factoids for all the family
    • Games and activities
    • Kids stories
    • RSPB kids competitions
    • Latest kids' activities
    • Wild Challenge

      Wild Challenge

      Nature is an adventure waiting to be had. Get out, get busy and get wild!

    • Fun factoids for all the family

      Fun factoids for all the family

      Find out more about the nature and wildlife outside your window.

    • Youth membership

      Youth membership

      As well as a free gift and magazines, you’ll get loads of ideas for activities to try at home.

  • Join & Donate
      Join us
    • Choose a membership
    • Family membership
    • Youth membership
    • Gift membership
    • RSPB Life Fellow Membership
    • Renew your membership
    • Our 2020 film
    • Donate
    • Our appeals
    • Make a one-off donation
    • Make a regular donation
    • Memorial donations
    • Plant a memorial tree
    • In memoriam booklet download form
    • Thank you
    • Leave a gift in your Will
    • Other people's gifts
    • Legacy donation FAQs
    • Legacy administration
    • Legacy booklet download form
    • Thank you
    • Other ways to help
    • Gift Aid
    • Support us when you shop
    • RSPB Images
    • RSPB second-hand binocular scheme
    • Win with the RSPB
    • Payroll Giving
    • Stamp out albatross deaths
  • Login to your account Sign up for an RSPB account
  • Shop
  • Community
  • Home
  • Reserves & events
  • Reserves A-Z
  • Nagshead

Nagshead

In line with Government guidance on essential, daily exercise outdoors, our trails are open. Our visitor centre, toilets and hides are closed. 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 Nagshead, Coleford Rd, Parkend, Lydney GL15 4LA
Grid ref
SO606085
See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

At the heart of the Forest of Dean, this mature oak woodland throngs with birds all-year round. See pied flycatchers and redstarts in the spring, all three British woodpecker species in summer and nuthatches in the autumn. Wrap up warm to see goshawks and treecreepers during the winter.

Plan your visit

Opening times

Car park: open daily, dawn-dusk.

Reserve: open daily, dawn-dusk.

Visitor Centre: closed.

Toilets: closed.

Hides: closed.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free, but donations are very welcome.
Children
Free, but donations are very welcome.

Facilities

  • Visitor centre is closed
  • Car park
  • Toilets are closed
  • Accessible toilets are closed
  • Baby changing is closed
  • Picnic area
  • Viewing points are closed
  • Nature trails
  • Educational facilities are closed

Accessibility

  • Full accessibility information (external website)

How to get here

By train

The nearest station is Lydney, 3.75 miles (6 km) away.

 

By bus

There is a stop at Parkend, by the cricket pitch/guesthouses. Buses run from Lydney Bus Station (circular), to the stop. For more information contact Gloucestershire Traveline on 0871 2002233. 

By bike

Nagshead is linked to the extensive Forest-wide cycle trail. However, cycling on the reserve is not permitted.

By road

From Parkend, take the B4431 in a westerly direction towards Coleford. Nagshead is signposted on the right on leaving Parkend village. Nearest postcode: GL15 4LA

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

Group booking information

Groups welcome, guided walks and access to the visitor centre can be arranged, please contact reserve staff for more information.

Schools booking information

School visits are welcome, we can help you arrange self-led visits or our partner can lead fully guided sessions which meet current curriculum criteria.

What will the weather be like?

14 degrees, Sunny day

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 867Kb

Nagshead trail guide

Contact Nagshead

  • RSPB Nagshead, Coleford Rd, Parkend, Lydney GL15 4LA
  • nagshead@rspb.org.uk
  • 01594 562852
  • @RSPBNagshead

What will you see?

Our star species

    Male pied flycatcher

    Pied flycatcher

    Watch for these birds through May and early June, flitting from branch to branch while they check it is safe to access their nestbox.

    Wood warbler

    Wood warbler

    Listen for the distinctive spinning coin call of the males and catch a glimpse of their bright plumage throughout spring and summer.

    Tree Pipit

    Tree pipit

    Keep an eye on tree tops in heathy/open areas to see this summer visitor singing over his territory.

    Spotted flycatcher

    Spotted flycatcher

    This flycatcher may be less striking than the pied, but worth looking high in the trees to see them ‘dash’ from their perch to catch dinner in the air.

    Lesser spotted woodpecker male

    Lesser spotted woodpecker

    The smallest of the British woodpeckers, this is a rare sight well worth seeking out when the trees are bare.

    Male Hawfinch illustration

    Hawfinch

    This elusive species is the largest of the finches in the UK, most frequently seen between January and March, but look for them in berry trees in late summer.

    Crossbill, male

    Crossbill

    These acrobatic finches can frequently be seen in noisy groups high in conifer trees.

    Male Goshawk

    Goshawk

    More often heard than seen, these birds of prey are masters of flying through woodland, often seeming to only just fit between tree trunks.

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

Many of the characteristic species are most easily viewed at this time of the year. Visitors such as wood warblers, pied flycatchers, redstarts and nightjars start to arrive, joining scarce resident species such as lesser spotted woodpeckers, woodcocks and hawfinches.

The birdsong subsides. This is very much the time to enjoy the extensive broadleaved woodland and especially the old 'Napoleonic' oaks, dating from the early 19th Century. Nagshead has the largest surviving stands of old oak in the Forest of Dean.

The summer-visiting birds are replaced by winter visitors like bramblings, lesser redpolls and redwings. October is the time of the deer rut and fallow deer can be heard calling throughout the forest for a brief two-week period.

Resident bird flocks including tits, treecreepers, nuthatches and occasionally woodpeckers can be seen. It is a good time to seek the elusive hawfinch and maybe catch a glimpse of wild boar at dusk. Mandarin ducks can often be seen on the reserve and in nearby ponds and lakes. February marks the beginning of the nesting season for ravens.

About Nagshead

Habitat

Nagshead has a mixture of habitats including woodland, ponds, glades and rides.

Conservation

RSPB work in partnership with the Forestry Commission in the Forest of Dean. The reserve is supported by RSPB local groups and supporters.

Site information

Nagshead is a great place for wildlife, and is recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

We have self-guided family activities available at the site as well as many events which are aimed specifically at families. Additionally, RSPB works with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Forestry Commission to lead monthly activities through Foresters' Forest.

Share this

  • Facebook Facebook Created with Sketch.
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

You might also be interested in

Highnam Woods RSPB reserve

Highnam Woods

This remnant of ancient woodland is carefully managed to keep a balance between mature trees and traditional coppice.
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.

We spend 90% of net income on conservation, public education and advocacy

Quick links

  • Contact us
  • Online Community
  • Vacancies
  • Media centre

Information for

  • Teachers
  • Policy makers
  • Farmers & landowners
  • Scientists

Our work in

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Wales
  • Northern Ireland
  • International

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Partnering with

BirdLife_logo

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International. Find out more about the partnership

Fundraising Regulator logo OSCR logo

© The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654

  • Terms & conditions
  • Cookie policy
  • Privacy policy
  • Charter and statutes
  • About our site
  • Modern Slavery Act

Cookie Preferences

Accepting all non-essential cookies helps us to personalise your experience

Edit settings
Accept all

Essential cookies are required

These cookies are required for basic web functions

Enable analytics cookies

Allow us to collect anonymised performance data

Enable marketing cookies

Allow us to personalise your experience

Save settings
Read our cookie policy