Ravensroost Wood

Shepherd Hut at Ravensroost Wood

Shepherd Hut at Ravensroost Wood. Credit: Eleanor Dodson.

Ravensroost Wood

Full of interesting wildlife and history. You can walk into surrounding wildflower meadows for a contrasting experience.

Location

Braydon
Malmesbury
Wiltshire
SN5 0AG

OS Map Reference

OS map 169 Grid ref: SU024876

View on What3Words

A static map of Ravensroost Wood

Know before you go

Size
97 hectares
image/svg+xmlz

Entry fee

Free
image/svg+xmlP

Parking information

On the B4696 signposted to Ashton Keynes and Cricklade, take the second left signposted to Garston. Go straight on at next cross roads and Ravensroost car park is on the right.
image/svg+xml

Bicycle parking

Follow National Cycle Route 254 northwards from Callow Hill along Wood Lane and then left onto Queen Street. After about one mile leave Route 254 and turn right towards Minety and then left at next crossroads. Reserve is just under 0.5 miles on right.
image/svg+xml

Grazing animals

Yes
image/svg+xml

Access

Not suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs other than surfaced central ride. Can get very muddy.

Dogs

image/svg+xmlOn a lead

See our FAQs for more information

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

All year round. Nearby attractions include Charlton Park (1 mile), Malmesbury Abbey (2 miles), Westonbirt National Arbortum (7 miles), North Meadow National Nature Reserve (8 miles).

About the reserve

Ravensroost Nature Reserve Car Park Closure:
From Monday 29 July Ravensroost nature reserve car park will be closed for a short period to allow for essential woodland maintenance. During this time, the nature reserve will remain accessible to the public. Visitors are advised to seek alternative parking arrangements and allow extra time for their journey. Please note parking on the verge is prohibited to allow for the machinery to access the site. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding as we work to improve the reserve for all.

Ravensroost Wood is a Platinum Jubilee Wood, full of interesting wildlife and history. You can walk into surrounding wildflower fields for a contrasting experience. To the east are Ravensroost and Avis Meadows, and to the north are Warbler and Distillery Meadows.

The wood’s northern section is a fine example of ancient woodland, meaning it has been continuously wooded since at least 1600AD. The south was almost completely cleared from the mid-1600s to make way for agriculture, before being replanted in the 19th century. We bought the wood in 1987. One of the rare ancient woodland tree species found here, is the wild service-tree, also known as chequers. In the past its berries were used to make alcoholic drinks.

Follow the surfaced path, known as the Jack Smith ride, through the wood until you come to the Shooting Hut. This was built in the 1930s and auctions were held here to sell coppiced wood. Lots of smaller rides criss-cross the wood and there are ponds.

Ravensroost Wood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and fantastic for birds. Winter is a good time for foraging birds such as redwing and nuthatch. The tawny owls are at their noisiest in December as they start to pair bond. Great and lesser spotted woodpeckers start drumming in January. Come for the Dawn Chorus in May and listen to warblers, blackcap, wren and treecreepers sing for their mates. Bats, including pipistrelle, forage at dusk and in autumn more than 450 species of fungi can be found here, such as the jellied mass of brain fungus.

Adjacent to Ravensroost are also some wildflower-rich grasslands at Avis, Distillery and Warbler Meadows.

See the Ravensroost sightings blog

Contact us

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Contact number: 01380 725670

Map of Ravensroost Wood & Meadows

Map of Ravensroost Wood
A beautiful place, British woodlands at there best! I can't explain how nice it is there, just go and visit for yourself.
Ian from Malmesbury
Nice little nature reserve with coppice woods and grassland. Handy car park which can easily fit five cars. Picnic bench for a quiet bite to eat.
Ben from Swindon
Volunteer

Volunteer, Aline Denton, cuts brambles and blackthorn as part of the farm's conservation management - Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION

Volunteer at Ravensroost

Register