Things to see and do at Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood

A child looks through yellow binoculars directly at the camera with a big smile on his face. — Wildlife spotting at Danbury Commons | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

The Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood offer a diverse natural environment in which wildlife can live and flourish. The rangers work all year round to manage this land and encourage mammals, birds, reptiles and other animals to stay or return.

Widlife at Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood

Nightingales

These broad-tailed brown birds are slightly larger than robins and are known for their song: a fast succession of high, low and rich notes that few other species can match.

The ancient woodland at Danbury Common and Blakes Wood is a hotspot for this endangered bird which is now only found in a small area of southern and eastern England. These tuneful creatures make their long journey from West Africa back to their breeding grounds each spring. The coppice woodland at Danbury Common and Blakes Wood creates the ideal habitat for nightingales who nest in the thick scrubby growth just above ground level.

Coppicing is carried out on a cycle working through different areas of the woodland each year, so regrowth and habitat is different in every area. This variety of habitat is crucial for healthy biodiversity within the woodland.

In order to help better plan the woodland management work rangers would like for help to get a better understanding of the population of nightingales, and other wildlife, that live in the woodland.

It's easy to get involved. Simply download the iRecord app which allows you to record and log sightings of nightingales (amongst other species), sharing the birds’ coordinates, descriptions and any other relevant information.

Download iRecord

Find out more about coppicing

A close up of a ranger's cupped hands holding a torpid dormouse at Killerton, Devon — Ranger holding a dormouse during welfare checks at Danbury Commons | © National Trust Images / Emma Jones

Dormice

These quiet, sleepy and elusive characters make the commons their home. You may never see them but it is always thrilling to know that this rare and vulnerable species is still present at Danbury, and may be traversing the branches above your head or simply curled up asleep hibernating.

Other regular visitors

Adders have also been making an appearance in their usual spots, and where you find adders you often find slow-worms too. Lizards are in evidence but have only been spotted so far this year by the swish of a tail.