Saltwells Wood Explorer

This is a scenic 2.2 mile, traffic free route around Saltwells Wood, one of the UK's largest Urban Nature Reserves, covering 247 acres. The wood is home to many species of woodland bird, such as Treecreeper, Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Wild Garlic and Anemones are found in the wood together with carpets of Bluebells.

Within the wood is Doulton's Claypit with spectacular cliffs showing a section through the rocks of the Middle and Lower Coal Measures. Abandoned in the 1940's, the claypit has been reclaimed by nature and now has unusual plants including hundreds of Common Spotted and Southern Marsh Orchids.

Presented with a Centre of Excellence award by the Forestry Authority for woodland management, Saltwells has long been a model urban reserve for Europe under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere project.