PLACES TO LISTEN

Places for Live Nightingale Song

(and check tweets @Ngale Nights)

This is not a comprehensive list of places where Nightingales occur but all have been recently listed online as having Nightingales present (or we heard them last year). We can’t guarantee it though !

Sadly they are still declining year by year, so even places which had regular singing Nightingales a few years ago, may have lost them (see Crisis).

Please do let us know if you have other locations to suggest, so that more people can have the experience of hearing a real live singing Nightingale.

LINCOLNSHIRE

Whisby Nature Park, Lincs

LEICESTERSHIRE/RUTLAND

Rutland Water, Rutland/Leics (Gibbets Gorse)

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

Glapthorn Cow Pastures, Northants

Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows, Nene Valley, Northants, (see also)

Southwick Forest, Short Wood, Oundle Northants (see also)

NORFOLK

Alderford Common, Norfolk [hadn’t heard any on several trips in April/May 2015 – are there any ? Chris]

Wiveton Down, Norfolk (see also) aslo nearby in Glaven Valley Bridgefoot Lane SW of junction with Glandford Rd, and Glandford Rd S of Cley STW near poplars

Salthouse Heath, Norfolk (see also)

CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Castor Hanglands Cambs

Grafham Water, Cambs (Huntingdonshire)

Paxton Pits, Cambs (St Neots)

BEDFORDSHIRE

See clickable map here

One traditional listening site is Tempsford Station Road rail crossing eg TL179543 and TL179540

They have also been at Priory Country Park (Bedford)

SUFFOLK

Newbourne Springs, Suffolk

Priestley Wood; Needham Market, Suffolk

Minsmere, Suffolk

Westleton Heath, Suffolk

Wolves Wood, Suffolk

ESSEX

Fingringhoe Wick, Essex

Wrabness Local Nature Reserve, Wrabness, Essex

Stour Estuary Nature Reserve, Essex

Salary Brook Nature Reserve, Colchester, Essex

Other Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserves where, among others, you can hear nightingales, include Abberton Reservoir, Copperas Wood, Cockaynes Wood and Stanford Warren.

Lee Valley Park Fishers Green. At Waltham Abbey follow signs to Lee Valley Park Farms. At Hayes Hill farm turn left down track, pass farm turn off and park in Fishers Green car park. Walk over river Lee on road bridge and follow path to gate and start listening. (thanks to Caroline Gellor)

LONDON

Gunpowder Park, Lea Valley, London

KENT

Bough Beech Visitor Centre, Kent

Northward Hill, Kent

Blean Woods, Kent

Ham Street Woods, Kent

Blean Woods, Kent

Wye NNR, Kent

Denge and Eggringe Woods & Bonsai Bank, Kent

Park Wood, Kent (see also)

Covert Wood, Kent

Kemberland Woods, Canterbury, Kent [THREATENED]

Oaken Wood, Maidstone, Kent (see also) [THREATENED]

Northward Hill Reserve, Kent

Cliffe Pools, Kent

Park Gate Down Nature Reserve, Kent

Lodge Hill, Chattenden Woods, Kent [THREATENED]

Holborough Marshes, Kent

SURREY

Witley & Milford Commons, Polesden Lacey, Surrey

Bookham Common, Surrey (See also and this )

Limpsfield Common, Polesden Lacey, Surrey

Hydon’s Ball & Heath, Polesdon Lacey, Surrey

SUSSEX

Pulborough Brooks, Sussex (see also)

Marline Valley Local Nature Reserve, St Leonards, Sussex

Woods Mill, Sussex

Brede High Woods, Near Battle, East Sussex

Coneyburrow Wood, Brede, Sussex (see also)

Chiddingfold Forest, Sussex

Hillhouse Wood, Colchester, Sussex

Moat Wood, East Hoathly, Sussex

Twyneham and Wineham Woods, Henfield, Sussex [THREATENED]

BERKSHIRE

Greenham and Crookham Commons, Berks

Theale Gravel Pits, Berks

Dinton Pastures and Lavells Lake

HAMPSHIRE & IoW

Martin Down NNR, Hants

Noar Hill Nature Reserve, Hampshire

Newtown Estuary, Isle of Wight

Ningwood Common, Isle of Wight

WILTSHIRE

Cotswold Water Park, Wilts

Swillbrook Lakes, Wilts

Langley Wood, Wilts

Coate Water, Swindon, Wilts

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Highnam Woods, Glos (see also)

Whelford Pools, Glos

Willsbridge Valley local nature reserve, S Glos

Lower Woods Nature Reserve, Glos (see also)

SOMERSET

Thurlbear Wood, Somerset (see also)

DORSET

Garston Wood, Dorset

 

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