Things to see and do at Witley and Milford Commons  

Natural play trail 

The wild about Witley natural play trail provides plenty of opportunities for children to practise climbing, balancing and being intrepid adventurers. It’s suitable for children of mixed ages and abilities and was designed with the help of pupils from local schools, working with National Trust staff and volunteers.

Inspired by nature and the history of the commons, it was funded by the generous support of a local donor. 

Some elements of the trail were designed around the wildlife you might see on the commons, such as the hop logs, which reflect the movement of animals and birds, from the tiny jumps of the robin, right up to the bounding leaps of the roe deer.

Other features of the trail remind us of the military history of the commons, where soldiers would have clambered over A-frames and crawled through tunnels as part of their daily training exercises.  

The timber used for the trail was all sourced on site using sustainable methods. 

Hide and seek 

The open woodlands of Witley and Milford Commons are great places to play hide and seek, with lots of bracken, undergrowth and fallen trees to hide behind. This is a great way to burn off some excess energy. 

Things to try with trees 

The woods on Witley Common are fantastic leafy playgrounds in their own right. Do some den building, but also get the family stuck into these activities: 

Climb a tree: scramble up and see how high you can go.  

Go foraging: collect nuts, acorns and berries and see how many you can identify. Remember, no matter how tasty they look, don’t eat anything unless you’re sure it’s safe.   

Measure the girth: put your arms around a tree trunk and see how big it is. How many people have to join in to reach all around? Which is the fattest tree in the wood?  

Hunt for bugs: examine the bark and see what creepy-crawlies are there. What sort of tree has the most?  

Try bark rubbing: take some paper and crayons. Hold the paper against the bark and rub to reveal the pattern. Which tree makes the most interesting pattern?  

Watch and listen for winter birds 

Many birds become more active at this time of year and, as the leaves fall, they’re easier to spot. As you stroll, see what you can find: 

Buzzards: you can often hear the cat-like cries of buzzards far above you as they soar in the sky. 

Kestrels: easily identified as a small bird that hovers above the fields hunting for small mammals.  

Jays: a fast-flying bird, often seen as a bright flash with a hint of blue as it dashes through the trees collecting acorns for the winter.  

Woodpeckers: the drumming of spotted woodpeckers is unmistakeable. The chuckling ‘yaffle’ of a green woodpecker is also notable. They like to hunt for ants on grass, and will fly off when disturbed.  

Owls: with dusk falling earlier in the afternoon, you may catch some of the owls coming out to hunt. Look for the eerie whiteness of a barn owl, the chunky little owl or hear the haunting t’whit-t’woo of tawny owls.   

Winter visitors: as the season progresses and the temperature drops you may be lucky to see some of the regular winter visitors to the woods and open areas – bramblings, fieldfares and redwings. Look out for the dandy waxwings perching high, chomping on rowan berries or hawthorns.  

Go on a winter foliage photographic safari 

Woodlands across the commons have a particular magic in the winter. The bare branches of trees reveal the skeletal shape. The low sun can light up corners and reveal brilliant colours in the landscape.   

Winter colour: look out for the bright reds of berries – holly, rosehips, guelder rose. Dogwood is a small shrub that has red stems that can shine in winter sunshine. In January and February you may find snowdrops poking through, burnished hazel catkins appearing and even the bright yellow of gorse flowers blooming. 

Foliage shapes: the wispy strands of lichen can be found on Milford Common in particular. Also keep an eye out for wild clematis seedheads – known as old man’s beard for their white fluffiness. Holly and ivy provide some green contrast to bare branches.   

Colourful fungi: you can still see these amid the leaf litter or on decaying oaks, beeches or ash trees. Look out for yellow chicken of the woods, white candle-snuff fungus, scarlet elfcap, blood-red beefsteak fungus and black, lumpy King Alfred’s cakes, looking like pieces of coal. 

Pack a winter picnic 

Picnics aren’t just for summer!. There are picnic tables and logs to sit on by the Witley centre building. A garden kneeler or blanket will make the seats comfortable to sit on. Bring a hot drink such as hot chocolate or soup – or maybe mulled wine for the adults. Warm food can be wrapped in silver foil – how about sausage rolls, bacon rolls or jacket potatoes?