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  • Tudeley Woods

Tudeley Woods

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.
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Address
RSPB Tudeley Woods, Dislingbury Lane, Tonbridge TN11 0PT
Grid ref
TQ617433
See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

This ancient, semi-natural mixed woodland is owned by the Hadlow Estate and managed in partnership with the RSPB. Areas of ancient woodland have been coppiced for hundreds of years, and ongoing coppice management and newly established forestry operations have created new wildlife habitats. Woodland flowers, butterflies and orchids are plentiful and there are more than 1,000 fungi species. Tree pipits, woodlarks and nightjars are also returning and hopes are high that Dartford warblers will colonise.

Plan your visit

Opening times

Reserve: open at all times.

Car park: open by arrangement.

Entrance charges

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

Facilities

  • Guided walks

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

The nearest railway station is High Brooms on the outskirts of Royal Tunbridge Wells.

By road

The reserve is off the A21 between Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells. If travelling north take the slip road from the A21 signposted Capel and Kent College. Go through the underpass, turn right and take the first turn left signposted Capel. If travelling south after leaving the slip road signposted Capel and Kent College take the first turn left signposted Capel. You are then on Half Moon Lane (also known as Dislingbury Road). The reserve car park is on the left-hand side after about 500 metres (a third of a mile).

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

What will the weather be like?

14 degrees, Sunny day

Contact Tudeley Woods

  • RSPB Tudeley Woods, Dislingbury Lane, Tonbridge TN11 0PT
  • 01892 752430

What will you see?

Our star species

    Lesser spotted woodpecker male

    Lesser spotted woodpecker

    Britain's rarest breeding woodpecker species is easiest to see and hear at Tudeley Woods in early spring.

    Nightjar male illustration

    Nightjar

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

    Marsh tit

    Marsh tit

    This small brown bird flits from twig to twig, searching for insects to feast on.

Recent sightings

 Nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus. Adult roosting during daylight hours, perched on a log, relying on camouflage and immobility for disguise. The Lodge RSPB reserve, Bedfordshire, England.

Find out about recent wildlife sightings at Tudeley Woods.

read more

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

The woodland will be carpeted in bluebells, primroses and wood violets in the spring. At this time of year, listen out for returning warblers such as chiffchaffs, willow warblers and blackcaps. Early butterflies on the wing should include brimstones and orange tips.

Warm summer nights are the perfect time to look for nightjars on the heath. By August the heather will be in full bloom. The birds will be difficult to see at this time of year, but great, blue and coal tits will be very noisy with their attendant newly-fledged young.

Autumn is the peak time to search for mushrooms and toadstools. Tudeley Woods now has a huge list of over one thousand different species. Berries will be forming on the woodland shrubs. Look for blackberry, hawthorn and guelder rose.

Winter is the time to see hunting sparrowhawks darting through the reserve, and kestrels hovering above the open fields in search of prey. Crossbills can normally be found around the conifers along the heathland trail. At the turn of the year, mistle thrushes can be heard singing on milder days.

About Tudeley Woods

Habitat

Get away from it all with a walk in the woods and through the newly restored heathland and meadow.

There are more than 1,000 species of fungi in the woods and beautiful orchids intermingled with an impressive carpet of bluebells and primroses in spring.

Conservation

In some areas there are grand old trees; in others the trees have been coppiced to open up the woodland floor and allow the woodland flowers and butterflies to flourish.

The age-old practice of charcoal burning is still active in the wood and the products are sold locally.

In the areas where the heathland has been restored nightjars are returning. Brakeybank meadow has also been restored to open up a pond and increase the area for a range of wildflowers.

Partners

The Tudeley Woods Reserve is owned by the Hadlow Estate, and managed in partnership with the RSPB thanks to a long-standing management agreement with the Estate.

Tudeley Woods is a fantastic home for nature, helped by the tremendous support of many individuals, groups and organisations. In addition to RSPB members and supporters, local community members and a tireless team of volunteers, we would particularly like to thank the following organisations for their financial support:

  • R G Hills Charitable Trust
  • Whitehead Monckton Charitable Foundation
  • AXA PPP
  • High Weald AONB Unit
  • Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust through the Landfill Community Fund
  • Forestry Commission via English Woodland Grant Scheme (EU and Defra funding)
The Hadlow Estate
Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust
Landfill Community Fund

Site information

Tudeley Woods is a restored ancient wood and heathland. The areas of woodland and heathland have been connected through extensive coppicing to open up the woodland floor.

Latest forum posts

  • Meadow

    The meadow is at last looking good and insects can now be seen and photographed. We stopped visiting 2 years ago as it was overgrown with brambles and neglected (in our eyes) Saw 10 species of butterfly today and 11 yesterday just walking around the ...

    Posted 28/07/2017 by John Tomsett
  • Clouded Yellow 27.7.2017

    Photographed a clouded yellow on the bottom path of the meadow. Never seen one here before.

    Posted 28/07/2017 by John Tomsett
read our forum

Latest blog posts

  • Wildlife sightings 17/11

    Signs of winter are starting to appear on the reserves now. It’s a good time to look out for flocks of wintering thrushes, redwing and fieldfare can often been seen feeding on berries or on the woodland floor at Tudeley. Also look out for small flock...

    Posted 17/11/2017 by Matt T
  • Wildlife sightings 21/07/17

    Its a quiet time of year for birds at the moment.  So its a good time of year to turn your attention to some of the other wildlife found on the reserve. Look out for silver washed fritillary butterflies and white admirals in the woodlands. Look out f...

    Posted 21/07/2017 by Matt T
  • Wildlife sightings 5/4/17

    Spring has arrived on the reserve in the last few weeks. Willow warblers are singing across the reserve and we had our blackcap in the Plants. Woodpeckers continue to drum across the reserve with the rarer Lesser Spotted Woodpecker being seen near de...

    Posted 05/04/2017 by Matt T
  • Fungi Foray and wildlife sightings 18/11

    The Fungi Foray walk at Tudeley recorded 46 species including a new record for the reserve Entoloma sordidulum bringing the total number of fungi recorded at Tudeley to over 1140! Species seen this month include marsh tit, redwing, fieldfare, bullfin...

    Posted 18/11/2016 by Matt T
read our blog

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