Magdalen Wood

Wood, Forest in Essex Colchester

England

Magdalen Wood

Telephone Box, Highwoods Credit: PAUL FARMER

Magdalen Wood, located in Essex, England, is a picturesque and enchanting forest that covers an area of approximately 200 acres. The wood is named after the nearby village of Magdalen Laver and is often referred to simply as Magdalen Wood. This ancient woodland is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its ecological importance and its rich biodiversity.

The wood is primarily composed of broadleaf trees, with a diverse range of species including oak, ash, beech, and birch. These majestic trees create a dense canopy that shelters a vibrant undergrowth of ferns, bluebells, and wildflowers. The forest floor is also home to a variety of fungi, adding to the woodland's ecological significance.

Magdalen Wood is renowned for its wildlife and is a haven for nature enthusiasts. The forest provides a suitable habitat for a range of animal species, such as deer, badgers, foxes, and numerous bird species including woodpeckers, tits, and owls. Visitors can often spot these creatures while walking along the well-maintained trails that wind through the wood.

The wood is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust, which ensures the preservation and conservation of this unique natural environment. They offer guided walks and educational programs for visitors of all ages, allowing them to explore and learn about the woodland's ecosystem.

Magdalen Wood is not only a place of natural beauty but also a place of tranquility and peace, providing a much-needed escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether it be for a leisurely stroll, a wildlife-spotting adventure, or an educational outing, Magdalen Wood offers a truly enchanting experience for all who visit.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Magdalen Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.905985/0.92845864 or Grid Reference TM0127. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Telephone Box, Highwoods

PAUL FARMER

Farmland near Colchester

N Chadwick

Outskirts of Colchester

N Chadwick

Joining the main line from the Colchester Town chord

Roy Hughes

Train line entering Colchester

Roy Hughes

Joining train tracks entering Colchester

Roy Hughes

The Olde Siege House

The Olde Siege House (East Bay Colchester). This 15th Century timber framed terrace of three houses (now one property) played a significant role in the siege of Colchester, which took place during the second phase of the English Civil War in the summer of 1648. The Parliamentarian town was taken by the Royalists and was promptly besieged for eleven weeks by Cromwell’s New Model Army. The civil war was finally brought to an end by the signing of a surrender document in the prophetically named “King’s Head Inn”. The red rings on the beams of the building are purported to surround bullet holes from the siege. However my father maintained to the end that he saw red rings being added to the building during his childhood in the early 1930’s..... around holes created with a brace and bit!

Glyn Baker

Sir Charles Lucas Arts College

Comprehensive School named after the leader of the Royalist Army during the siege of Colchester in the English Civil War.

Angela Tuff

Wycliffe Baptist Church

In Parsons Heath

Angela Tuff

The Rovers Tye

Public House and Restaurant on Ipswich Road. The original building is 200 years old and has previously been a farmhouse and a butchers.

Angela Tuff

The Gilberd School

Comprehensive School named after William Gilberd, the pioneer of the study of magnetism in England. He lived in Trinity Street, Colchester.

Angela Tuff

Unofficial Path

This path leads out of High Woods Country Park north of Colchester. However it is of little use to the average walker as you are confronted with the back garden gates of Friars Close (behind the photographer) and no way to reach a public road or right of way.

Glyn Baker

Further Meadow

This meadow in High Woods Country Park has never been cultivated due to the soggy nature of the soil. It is now periodically grazed to maintain the habitat for wildlife.

Glyn Baker

Highwoods Lake

This lake is used to control the water level in the meadows down stream holding excess water thus preventing flooding. This type of flood control is known as a balancing Lake

Glyn Baker

Brunel Way

This is Brunel Way part of a large business park to the north of Colchester. The mainly service industries based here have to some degree helped alleviate the unemployment caused by the closure of Colchester’s traditional engineering employers such as the lathe company.

Glyn Baker