About the reserve

A wood pasture wander at Danemead is a symphony for the senses. Beautiful bird song fills the air – can you hear the high-pitched twitter of a Goldcrest, the country’s smallest bird’s or the melodic scratchy song of Blackcap or if you’re lucky maybe a fluting call of a Bullfinch from the dense scrubby edges?

In spring, look out for the diminutive Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage in damp areas along the Spital Brook. This beautiful Oak-hornbeam woodland is surrounded by rich history – the site is bounded by Ermine Street, a major Roman road that ran from London to Lincoln and York. The Hertfordshire Way, a 195-mile long-distance circular trail through the whole of Hertfordshire, passes through here.

Join us on a virtual tour of Danemead Nature Reserve. 

Directions

Site entrance: From ‘Martin’s Green’ car park off Cock Lane, walk down the track from the car park for 200 yards to the reserve entrance. There is also access to the site from Hoddesdon Park Wood along the Hertfordshire Way.

Access by road: From Hoddesdon head towards Broxbourne on A1170, turn right at Cock Lane roundabout and follow road for 1.5 miles. The reserve and car park is on the right.

Access by public transport
Bus: 310, 341, 392, 410, 411, 641 to Hoddeston Clock Tower (2.3 miles).
Rail: Broxbourne (2.4 miles).