Priestclose Wood

Priestclose Wood is an ancient woodland, close to the centre of Prudhoe, attracting rich birdlife and featuring a small pond harbouring a variety of amphibians.

Location

Eastern edge of Prudhoe

Prudhoe

Northumberland

NE42 5DL

OS Map Reference

NZ 106 628

Know before you go

Size

15 hectares

Entry fee

Parking information

There is no designated parking, although there are a limited number of hard standing areas on the lane behind Priestclose Cottages just off the main Prudhoe to Ryton Road (NE42 5DL). Further street parking is available on Stancley Road (NE42 5AG).

Walking trails

From the main entrance, there is a wide, partly-gravelled path, with two small boardwalks, which leads to the pond at the edge of the reserve.

Access

The main entrance is from a small lane behind Priestclose Cottages, off the B6395 east of Prudhoe town centre. A series of seven rough steps are just beyond an open entrance. There are many other formal and informal access points around the perimeter of the reserve. 50m west of the steps is a gently sloping, surfaced path which leads to a dipping platform before looping back round the pond. The terrain is generally moderately difficult, with some steep slopes and many tree roots across paths. The paths are often muddy, particularly through the winter.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

24/7/365

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn

About the reserve

The site consists of mainly oak, birch and rowan but ash, holly, willow and elder also occur. Management is ongoing to control non-native and invasive tree species such as sycamore, Norway maple and beech.

Patches of wood anemone and lesser celandine are present in early spring, followed by greater and wood stitchwort, wood sorrel and bluebells. Later, foxgloves provide colour on the woodland floor.

A variety of birds are found in the reserve including jay, treecreeper, great-spotted woodpecker and redpoll. Fox and deer also frequent the wood. The small pond is home to a variety of amphibians including all three species of British newts.

The site is owned by Northumberland county Council and managed by Northumberland Wildlife Trust.