How to get there

Heartwood Forest can be accessed by bike, by bus, by train and by car. The information below will help you to plan your visit.

By Bike

There are a number of cycle routes directly into Heartwood Forest, take a look at our map of cycle routes.

By Bus

Route 304 timetable
Route 620 timetable
Uno bus routes map

By train

Timetable of trains to St Albans

By Car

There is currently no designated car park at Heartwood Forest so we advise you to come by other means where possible or use the Sandridge Village Hall car park.

Notes to help you when visiting Heartwood Forest

When you first arrive at Heartwood Forest, it may seem like the site is only open farmland and that there is not much to look at in terms of woodland. However, there is more there than first meets the eye. There are three blocks of ancient woodland totalling 44 acres. This habitat is the UK’s equivalent of the rainforest, supporting more species that any other UK landscape.

The ancient woods at Heartwood Forest, are superb examples of oak and hornbeam woodland, and if you visit in the spring you will see impressive displays of bluebells and wood anemones. If lucky, you may also see buzzards circling above the woods, hunting for food.
 
There are some new hedges which have been planted, and you will also see some really old hedges containing hazel, field maple, blackthorn and hawthorn which are an important feature for both wildlife and the landscape. As you walk around, catch the great views back to Sandridge village and the tower of St Leonard church.

Given that we will be planting the wood in a number of stages, we will continue to farm many of the fields for several years. We ask that you please only access these areas and not those under crops.

Every year, in October, approximately 170 acres of new land will be made available for tree planting and public access. The current areas you can access provide a link from the Hertfordshire way at Sandridge through to Nomansland common, and takes in the areas of ancient woodland.