Wistow Wood

Wistow Wood is a nature reserve in Ramsey covering about 9 hectares of woodland with old ash trees and different habitats where mosses, lichens, fungi, and many insect species live. The site is accessed through marked paths, with a narrow bridge at the north end and two steps at the entrance.

The woodland experienced extensive tree felling before the 1920s, after which natural regeneration processes shaped its current structure. This recovery shows how forest can restore itself without ongoing management.

Traditional woodland management methods, including coppicing techniques, have shaped the character of Wistow Wood through generations of sustainable resource use.

The site is accessible to visitors with different mobility levels, with marked paths that are easy to follow. Plan time for a leisurely walk and note that the ground may be damper after rain.

The forest floor transforms in spring into a carpet of wild mercury, bluebells, wood anemones, and primroses. In summer, meadowsweet flowers bloom, giving the woodland a different character as the seasons change.