Swell Wood

We’re delighted to be open for visitors, though our hide is currently closed. See full facility details below. When visiting us please follow current Government guidance around travel, face coverings, social distancing, group sizes, hygiene and follow all signage on-site. See our Covid-19 updates page for the latest safety information (link below). 

Address: RSPB Swell Wood, A378, Taunton TA3 6PX

Grid ref: ST360238

What3Words: grower.scouts.passenger

See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

The ancient oaks of Swell Wood are part of a strip of woodland extending 10 miles along the ridge from Langport to the Blackdown Hills. Come to find nesting herons and little egrets between March and June, while nuthatches and woodpeckers feed at the car park bird feeders in winter.

Plan your visit

All year, from dawn to dusk.

Hides open.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, but donations are very welcome

Children: Free, but donations are very welcome

Facilities

Car park
Picnic area
Guided walks is closed
Viewing point
Nature trails

Accessibility

Full accessibility information (external website)

How to get here

By train

Taunton, 11 miles (17 km) away. Continue the journey to the reserve by bus by making your way to the bus station close to the town centre (0.8 miles from the rail station). Bus stops for services to the town centre are located directly outside the front entrance of the rail station.

By bus

First Group Somerset & Avon/54 bus stop on the A378 at Swell, where the reserve can be accessed via a stile onto the Scarp Trail. If a flat walkway is essential, a request stop may be possible at the brown reserve sign as the reserve entrance is a short distance down the side road. This bus stops automatically at Fivehead but will do a request stop at the reserve entrance or Swell.

By bike

This reserve is close to Route 33 of the National Cycle Network. Cycle hire available from Bowbridge Cycles in Langport, tel: 01458 250350.

By road

Swell Wood is 11 miles east of Taunton. It is accessed from the A378 Langport road between the villages of Fivehead and Curry Rivel (brown signage one mile east of Fivehead). From Taunton, take the A358 towards Ilminster, turn left onto the A378. Take the first turning on your left after leaving the village of Fivehead village to access the reserve entrance.

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

View on What3Words

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Dogs are welcome on the Scarp Trail around the reserve. Sorry, no dogs are permitted on the Woodland Trail or into the Heronry hide other than assistance dogs.

On the Scarp Trail, please keep your dog on a lead and under close, effective control at all times, due to the sensitive wildlife and habitats here. We know that the countryside is a dog walking paradise. It’s important to remember the special surroundings here are wonderful havens for rare wildlife so we’ve created designated dog-friendly routes for you and your pooch to enjoy. Even if dogs are very well behaved, wildlife can easily become startled by a loose dog they perceive as a predator.

Disturbing wildlife does more than simply causing it to move away; it uses up their energy, decreasing their chance of survival regardless of season. Thank you for protecting the special wildlife here by keeping your dog on a lead and under close, effective control.

Dogs can die in hot cars, please do not leave your dog in the car when visiting us.

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 1.3Mb

Swell Wood trail guide

Contact Swell Wood

RSPB Swell Wood, A378, Taunton TA3 6PX
swell.wood@rspb.org.uk
01458 252805
@RSPBGreylake

What will you see?

Our star species

Great spotted woodpecker

They can be seen visiting the feeding station, where their preferred food is peanuts.

Grey heron

More than 100 pairs of grey herons nest in the trees at Swell Wood.

Little egret

Small numbers of little egrets have joined the grey herons in the treetop heronry.

Marsh tit

Listen out for their calls - 'pitchoo' - they sound like they are sneezing.

Nuthatch

Nuthatches are very charismatic residents of Swell Wood.

Nature spectacles

Swell Wood is home to the largest colony of breeding grey herons in South-West England with more than 100 pairs making their nests in the trees between March and June. Come and hear their croaking cacophony for yourself - maybe at one of our heron events.

Watch out for nesting grey herons, while bluebells, primroses and orchids burst into life in the woodland. It's full of birdsong including chiffchaffs, blackcaps, marsh tits and song thrushes.

Little egrets raising their young are still visible among the oak trees. Birdsong subsides at this time, but still keep an eye out for spotted flycatchers, goldfinches and goldcrests. This is a lovely time to enjoy the extensive broadleaved woodland and great views of the hay meadows and waterways of the Somerset Levels from the viewing area.

See how many different types of fungi you can see in the woodland. Enjoy the autumnal colours and marvel at the spectacular views of the Somerset Levels and Moors.

You could see nuthatches and woodpeckers feeding at the car park bird feeders, while roving flocks of tits and other small birds pass through the woods.

About Swell Wood

Habitat

Swell Wood is a mix of Ancient Woodland and an abandoned oak plantation which is more than 100 years old. The old oak plantation is where the herons nest up in the tops of the tall spindly trees. Elsewhere the woodland has a fantastic ground flora with bluebells and dog mercury carpeting the woodland floor and plants such as yellow archangel and herb paris scattered amongst them in the spring. A shrub layer of hazel provides habitat for the nocturnal and elusive doormouse and the old trees provide homes in cracks and crevices for many species of bat.

Conservation

Management of the woodland is focused on providing habitat for the dormouse. This involves coppicing the understorey of Hazel in parts of the woodland where we have found evidence that they are using it. Elsewhere we look to leave things largely as they are, so we don't remove dead standing and lying wood as this provides fantastic woodland habitat. We have recently renewed our heronry viewing hide using green building techniques to reduce the physical and visual impact on the woodland. We hope you like it, we do.

Site information

The ancient oaks of Swell Wood are part of a continuous strip of woodland extending some 10 miles (15 km) along the ridge from Langport to the Blackdown Hills.

Between March and June nesting herons and little egrets provide our largest wildlife spectacle and in the autumn with the right conditions see a fantastic fungi display. While throughout the year woodland birds such as nuthatches, woodpeckers and treecreepers can be seen feeding on the car park bird feeders.

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