King's Wood through the year

There is always something to see and enjoy in King's Wood throughout the year with a variety of UK native trees, flowers, ferns, mosses, lichens, fungi, insects and animals. Most are typical woodland species and in the shallow valley in the north east area of the wood there are a variety of chalk loving wildflowers along the path edges.

There are many online resources to help you identify plants you encounter in the wood including Google Lens, Pl@ntNet App and the Woodland Trust How to Identify Trees website. To identify trees in winter try this Winter twigs identification chart. If you spot anything unusal we would love to know. Also you can add observations to iNaturalist and get confirmation of your identifications.

In Spring there is an abundance of bluebells thoughout the wood. The air is heavy with the scent and, when the sunshine filters through the trees, the carpet of bluebells is a beautiful sight. On sunny March days you may see brightly coloured yellow Brimstone butterflies. We also have small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies and in more shaded areas the speckled wood butterfly is quite common. Listen for the drumming of the great spotted woodpecker.

Other flower species to look out for: Wood Anenome, Dog's Mercury, Lords and Ladies, Wild Clematis.

Bluebells in Spring

Bluebells and Yellow Archangel

In Summer flowers like Hedge Woundwort and Wood Sorrell can be found. You might spot Yellow Pimpernel in June. Other flower species: Wood Sage, Pendulous Sedge.

Wood Speedwell

Hedge Woundwort

Yellow Pimpernel

In Autumn the leaves on the trees change their colours, giving a beautiful golden charm to the Wood. King's Wood has many mature trees, including English Oak (both Pedunculate and Sessile) and Ash.

You may see fungi at this time of year, including the Fly Agaric, Sulphur Tuft and Puff Ball.

Berries are an important resource for birds and other creatures. The black berries of the Elder tree are a good food source. You may see black and red currants and also the orange berries of Spindle.

In late September you might see late butterflies such as Peacock and Red Admiral.

Winter brings its own beauty to King's Wood. As the foliage and bracken die back, you can find other interesting things to look at - like this Bracket Fungus on an old Cherry Laurel stump.

You may see abandoned nests high up in the tree branches.

Even as late as November you might see pond skaters on the pond and the muddy tracks of fox, badger and deer.

Winter buds: Beech and Hornbeam both have buds at this time of year.

A sunny day in November

Bracket Fungus on a dead Cherry Laurel

Roe deer among the bluebells, April 2026

Snakefly (Phaeostigma notata), June 2025

Speckled Wood Butterfly, April 2026

Tawny Mining Bee, May 2024

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