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
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)
BEDFORDSHIRE
One traditional listening site is Tempsford Station Road rail crossing eg TL179543 and TL179540
They have also been at Priory Country Park (Bedford)
SUFFOLK
Priestley Wood; Needham Market, Suffolk
Minsmere, 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
Blean Woods, Kent
Wye NNR, Kent
Denge and Eggringe Woods & Bonsai Bank, Kent
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
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