About the reserve

Rigsby Wood is an ancient woodland lying partly on chalky Boulder Clay and partly on glacial sands at the edge of the Wolds. Although some areas have been replanted, the reserve retains a rich ground flora, and a substantial part is old coppice of hazel and ash with standard trees of oak and ash. The path passes through a narrow section of the wood known as The Pingle in which old ridge and furrow can be detected, showing that this is not part of the ancient wood.

The woodland soon opens out and the path crosses the medieval boundary bank into the old part of the wood. There is old plantation woodland on the left and old coppice on the right. In this older part of the wood, bluebells are in abundance along with wood anemone, wood-sorrel, early-purple orchid, sweet woodruff and ragged-robin, which is an old meadow relict species.

Along the old boundary between Rigsby and Haugh parishes, there is a fine medieval bank, and another one between Rigsby and Ailby Woods with large field maples. There is a good range of breeding birds, including tawny owl, great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, treecreeper, bullfinch, garden warbler and blackcap. Woodcock are regular in winter.

Nearest postcode LN13 0AN. Please note - postcodes are for the nearest registered address as we are unable to get postcodes for nature reserves.

Location information

Rigsby Wood location PDF

What3Words

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