Sandridge, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 9DQ

Heartwood Forest

Forest

Source image

5.6

Wildland

1–2 hours, Half day

Time

Check

Cost

Peaceful

Feel

ForestWoodlandFarmlandWalkersFamiliesDogsPhotographersWildlife lovers

Why it's Wildland

5.6

A vast former-farmland landscape transformed by volunteers: more than half a million trees have been planted here, alongside meadows, orchards and hedgerows. The result is a young forest connected to rare ancient woodland, with several habitats to explore across a broad network of paths.

Heartwood Forest is more than a newly planted wood. Its 347 hectares bring young native woodland together with rare ancient woodland, wildflower meadow, orchard and hedgerows, giving a simple walk a wider landscape to explore.

Peaceful · Wild

Find your way

Open map

Sandridge, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 9DQ

Opening map…

Explore around here Get directions

Know this place a little better?

Add photos Add video Add a waypoint Improve information Report a change

The experience

Explore the Woodland Trust’s network of paths through a large, varied landscape of young woodland, rare ancient woodland, meadow, orchard and hedgerow. A short surfaced all-access loop is available from the car park; longer walks use mostly unsurfaced paths.

Things to do

Walk the waymarked paths

Use the site map at the main car park entrance to explore the forest’s path network. Most paths are unsurfaced and may be muddy when wet.

Compare young woodland with rare ancient woodland

Explore the mix of newly planted native woodland and rare ancient woodland that makes this landscape distinctive.

Take the short all-access loop

A short surfaced all-access loop starts from the car park. Check current conditions and whether the route meets your needs before visiting.

Explore the meadow and orchard habitats

Look beyond the tree cover for the site’s wildflower meadow, orchard, hedgerows and grassland.

Make a day of it

Quick escape · 1–2 hours

Quick forest escape

01
Start at the main car park entrance and check the information boards and site map.
02
Choose a manageable section of the waymarked paths, taking in the contrast between woodland and open meadow.
03
Return to the car park; use the short surfaced all-access loop if it suits your visit.

Half day · Half day

Make a half day of it

01
Begin at the main car park entrance and use the site map to plan a longer walk.
02
Follow the paths to experience several of the site’s habitats, including young woodland, meadow, orchard and hedgerow.
03
Allow extra time to explore the rare ancient woodland and take a quieter pause among the trees before returning.

Verified history

Heartwood Forest has transformed a large area of former farmland in London’s greenbelt. The Woodland Trust reports that tens of thousands of volunteers have planted more than half a million trees and sown meadows. Although the forest is still young, it includes rare ancient woodland alongside new woods and other connected habitats.

Hidden details

A forest with more than one age — Heartwood Forest is young overall, but its connected habitats include rare ancient woodland. Look for the change in character as you move between established woodland and newly planted trees.

A patchwork beyond the trees — Meadow, orchard, hedgerow and grassland sit alongside woodland, making this a varied landscape rather than a continuous block of trees.

When to go

April · May · Choose a time that allows for an unhurried walk; no specific time-of-day advantage is verified by the supplied sources.

The Woodland Trust lists spring flowers as a site feature. The supplied sources do not verify particular flowering dates or a peak month.

Most paths are unsurfaced and can become muddy when wet. Check conditions before visiting.

What to look for

01
Notice the contrast between newly planted native woodland and the rare ancient woodland. Look out for the wildflower meadows, orchard and hedgerows that add variety to the forest landscape
02
the Woodland Trust also lists spring flowers as a feature.

The story

Landscape transformation and woodland creation

Best time to go

Spring for flowers and fresh growth; autumn for changing woodland colour. The Woodland Trust lists spring flowers among the site’s features.

Spring is a good time to look for the site’s listed spring flowers. After wet weather, expect unsurfaced paths to be muddy. Check current conditions before choosing a route.

How long to spend

1–2 hours, Half day

Perfect for

Walkers · Families · Dogs · Photographers · Wildlife lovers

Before you go

Website Google Maps

Address

Sandridge, St Albans AL4 9DQ

Website

heartwood.woodlandtrust.org.uk

Listed hours

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Check before visiting.

Google rating

4.7 · 710 reviews

Practical information

Opening & access

The Woodland Trust describes Heartwood Forest as having public access and several entrances linked to public or permissive paths. For a first visit, it recommends the main car park entrance, where there are information boards and a site map. Check current access and conditions before travelling.

Check before visiting

Parking

The Woodland Trust lists parking at the site and nearby, and identifies a main car park entrance. Check current parking arrangements before visiting.

Check before visiting

Toilets

Check before visiting. The supplied Google information says there is no toilet; confirm with the Woodland Trust before setting out.

Check before visiting

Food & drink

Check before visiting.

Check before visiting

Dogs

The supplied Google listing reports dogs are allowed, but the Woodland Trust excerpt does not confirm the rules or any restrictions. Check before visiting.

Check before visiting

Accessibility

The Woodland Trust describes a short surfaced all-access loop from the car park and a DDA-compliant path through the wood forming part of the Magical Meander trail. Most other paths are unsurfaced and can become muddy; some approaches from Sandridge have moderate gradients. Check current conditions and route suitability before visiting.

Check before visiting

Cost

Check before visiting