The Warwickshire countryside is filled with an abundance of beautiful plants, birds, animals and bugs all year round – particularly in the spring and summer.
Description
(S/E) Start your walk by heading into Ryton Wood. Check out the carved totem pole and interpretation board by the gate. Head towards the first waymarker and continue to follow subsequent waymakers as they direct you around the Figure of Eight Trail. Take a look at our carved bluebell and owl bench.
(1) As you continue along the path, you will come across a feature post revealing a site of ecological or historical significance in the wood as well as acting as a reminder to pause, look and listen. Look out for the others along the trail. Appreciate our carved snail bench amongst the woodland flora.
After the seventh waymarker, take a break at our carved hedgehog and rabbit bench and try and listen out for the drumming of the great spotted woodpecker.
(2) You are now at the last set of feature posts and carved benches on the trail. Soon after, turn right at the tenth waymarker and follow the path until you reach the entrance of Ryton Wood.
Before heading back to Ryton Pools Country Park Visitor Centre, take a detour to your left at the junction to visit our sculptures of a Straight-tusked elephant adult and calf nearby the sand martin hotel. These reflect important paleontological finds made on site during quarrying.(S/E)
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 89 m - Ryton Wood
- 1 : km 0.2 - alt. 104 m - Owl bench
- 2 : km 1.28 - alt. 108 m - Carved benches
- S/E : km 1.76 - alt. 89 m - Ryton Wood
Useful Information
More details : https://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.or...
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
During the walk or to do/see around
Ryton Wood is one of the county’s largest surviving semi-natural ancient woodlands and one of our key sites in the Dunsmore scheme area. It covers 85 hectares, has been designated as an SSSI and boasts an extensive list of notable species, including the purple hairstreak butterfly.
Parts of Ryton Wood date back to the 11th century, so the land may have been wooded since the end of the last ice age. Finding coppiced, small-leaved lime stools is evidence to support this. Once the most common tree 5,000 years ago, the species is no longer so common. Huge ditches also indicate the wood’s ancient, medieval boundaries. Forty or so species of tree and shrub have been identified, with oak being the dominant tree. An abundance of honeysuckle, our county flower, scrambles through the lower-growing hazel - enjoy its sweet perfume on summer days.
