Consall Woods

Address: Consall Woods, Consall, Staffordshire, ST9 0BE

Grid ref: SJ994 484

What3Words: grove.garage.menu

Consall Woods is a wonderful place to explore. This once industrial valley has again taken on nature's mantle and is now a wonderfully rich mixture of wood pasture, pools and mature woodland, nestled alongside the River Churnet. In early Spring, the valleys woodland flowers are enchanting and in the Summer it’s a real joy to see the returning flycatchers and redstarts come to breed. Evidence of the past industry may be seen all year round as the Caldon canal and Churnet Valley preserved steam railway, both make their way through the valley.

Plan your visit

9am-9pm (or dawn to dusk if earlier)

The public rights of way are open at all times.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free

Children: Free

Car park suggested donation: £4 parking donation

Facilities

Visitor centre is closed
Car park
Toilets
Accessible toilets
Baby changing
Picnic area
Viewing point
Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

The nearest railway station, Stoke on Trent, is 9 miles (14.5 km) away and has a taxi rank.

By bus

Moorlands Connect will run a service to Consall Woods if requested:

Email bookings@moorlandsconnect.co.uk (48 hours advance notice) or Tel 01335 342951.

For more information see Ashbourne Community Transport

By bike

National Cycle Network - traffic-free route: nearest access near Biddulph, about 12.5 miles (20.5 km).

By road

From Leek take the A520 south, to Wetley Rocks, there take the A522 left fork. After 600m take the left hand junction for Consall. After about 1 mile turn left at the T junction within the village. Follow this road another mile to an entrance with a RSPB weclome sign. Follow road and after half a mile turn hard right into the car park.

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

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RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Dogs on leads are welcome on the public footpaths around the nature reserve. Please keep to the designated rights of way only.

Please keep your dog on a lead and under close, effective control at all times, due to the sensitive wildlife, habitats and livestock 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. Even if dogs are very well behaved, wildlife and livestock 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 die in hot cars, please do not leave your dog in the car when visiting us.

Contact Consall Woods

Consall Woods, Consall, Staffordshire, ST9 0BE
CoombesValleyandConsallWoods@rspb.org.uk
01538 384017 (please note, the phone isn't staffed daily, so email is the preferred contact)
@RSPBCoombes
Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

Willow tit

Resident through-out the year and regularly heard and seen by the Consall woods car park as well as scrubby areas along the river and canal. The areas of damp scrub here seem to suit them well.

Pied flycatcher

Arriving in mid-April, these eye catching birds can be seen at Consall in Chase wood, Booths and Crowgutter. While few birds are found in the old nature park, they are often seen nearby, in the Consall woods car park. These birds seem to have done particularly well across this site since the holly understory, below the oaks, was recently removed.

Redstart

Arriving in mid-April, these beautiful birds can often be seen on the pasture near the river. The also occur at Consall in Chase wood and can sometimes be seen in the woodland on the opposite of the river as you head to Chase wood from the lime kilns.

Nuthatch

These colourful birds can commonly be seen in the carpark at Consall woods.

In spring, Consall is alive with woodland birdsong. From singing blackbirds to wrens, the dawn chorus is truly something special. It's also a great time to hear great spotted woodpeckers drumming throughout the woodland. Our star summer migrants, the pied flycatcher and redstart, can be seen and heard between mid- April and late May

In early summer, Consall Woods are filled with birdsong, with the woodland edges alive with the sound of warblers such as blackcaps, garden warblers and chiffchaffs.

In autumn, fieldfares and redwings appear in numbers in October. Siskins and lesser redpolls appear particularly in the areas with alder trees. Down by the river, if you're patient, dippers and grey wagtails may be seen.

Winter is a good time to watch for willow tit and marsh tit in the car park area and down by the pools. They can also be seen along the canal. Early songsters like mistle and song thrushes will be bringing the woodland back to life on warmer, sunnier days.

About Consall Woods

Habitat

You won’t find a better spot for a wildlife-filled woodland walk than Consall Woods. Set in a steep-sided valley with the River Churnet running through, it’s a picturesque spot where you can see both woodland and wetland birds. In spring, birdsong fills the air as blackbirds and wrens lend their calls to the dawn chorus. Be sure to listen out for great spotted woodpeckers – the drummers of the group. In late spring and early summer, flycatchers and restarts arrive.

Down by the river in autumn, patient watchers may be rewarded by a glimpse of dippers and grey wagtail. And, in winter, keep your eyes peeled for willow tit and marsh tit by the pools.

Conservation

The beauty of Consall Woods is its variety and that’s what we work to safeguard at the reserve. We carefully manage the site for the benefit of all the wildlife that calls it home. Consall Woods is a mosaic of mature trees and scrub, made up of trees of all species, ages and sizes. We preserve this mixture, ensuring the ideal balance for biodiversity. We also tend the grassland meadows, keeping them full of flowers by using grazing with old breeds of cattle and traditional hay-making methods.

Site information

Stretching over 479 acres, there’s so much to explore at Consall Wood. You’ll find a range of trails to suit different abilities, with conveniently-located benches so you can stop and rest or have a snack while taking in views across the valley.

Consall Woods