Seckar Wood
Seckar Wood is an old forest and heathland located 5.5 miles south of Wakefield on Barnsley Road.
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Location:
Seckar Wood
Wakefield
WF4Open every day.
Free car park on Seckar Lane open 6am to 9pm April - October and 6am to 7pm November to March.
Facilities and services
- Beautiful woodland and heathland
- Ideal for walks and wildlife watching
- Special site of scientific interest due to the diversity of the plants
Historical Interest
Seckar Wood was part of the Wentworth estate for over 300 years. In 1923 it was bought by local photographer Warner Gothard.
The walled pond near the centre was built as a swimming pool in the 1930s and the small summer house nearby was never completed.
Warner died in 1940 and left the wood to the people of Wakefield and Barnsley. After being held in trust for twenty years the wood was handed to Wakefield and Barnsley councils and has been managed by us since then
Nature Conservation
A carpet of bluebells covers the woodland floor in spring. Dead wood encourages invertebrates which provide food for many of the birds including Great Spotted Woodpecker and Treecreepers. In summer the heathland is a sea of purple when the Heather flowers.
Watch out for Stoats, Weasels, and Roe Deer in the woodland.
Volunteers
The Friends of Seckar Wood work with the Countryside Officers to help maintain the site such as clearing scrub and controlling Himalayan Balsam.
Visit the Friends of Seckar Wood Facebook page for further details about the Friends group.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact seckar.wood@gmail.com
If you are interested in local volunteering opportunities on this and other sites, please get in touch with Countryside.
Contact Us
Waterton Countryside Discovery Centre Anglers Country Park Haw Park Lane Wintersett Wakefield WF4 2EB