Wood open every day
| 1 April - 31 October | 11am - 4pm |
| 1 November - 31 March | 10.30am - 3.30pm |
Haw Park Wood is situated 4 miles south-east of Wakefield.
Located next to Anglers Country Park and a short walk from its car park the area is currently dominated by conifers but this is slowly being changed back to deciduous woodland.
The park has been awarded Green Flag status - this recognises the best parks in the country.
Parking
Parking charges apply between 9am and 6pm, 7 days a week:
Up to 2 hours: £1
Up to 4 hours: £2
Over 4 hours: £3
Facilities and activities |
- Toilets 10am – 4pm
- Changing Places facility
- Free electric mobility scooters
- Pushchair and wheelchair friendly
- Adventure playground
- Picnic areas
- Information panels
At the visitor centre:
- Information, maps and leaflets
- Kids' activity area
-
Room hire
| - Circular walks of different lengths
- Great for walkers, joggers, cyclists, horse riders
- Part of Trans Pennine Trail
- Orienteering course
- Red way-marked trail: 2 miles
- Yellow way-marked trail: 1 mile
- Blue way-marked trail: ½ mile
- Waterton Trail passes through the wood
- Pixie village
- Benches for relaxing and watching wildlife
- Panels provide info on wildlife and habitats
|
Newly refurbished café coming Spring 2019
We are creating a brand new café experience at Anglers Country Park with an improved selection of hot and cold food, drinks and much more.
The café is currently closed but please bear with us while we make some exciting changes which we hope you’ll enjoy.
Historical interest
Once part of the much larger Don Forest, the wood has historical links with the adjoining Walton Hall Estate (now the Waterton Park Hotel and Waterton Park Golf Club) once owned by Charles Waterton, creator of the world's first nature reserve.
In the north of the woodland a nine foot high wall can be seen which he built to protect the animals found in the estate and keep poachers out.
Inside this wall he built watchtowers which he used to watch wildlife. One of these watchtowers can be found in the woodland and has been restored.
Nature conservation
Haw Park Wood is designated as a local nature reserve.
Between 1940 and 1960, the ancient woodland was planted with fast growing softwoods such as Pine and Larch, to supply timber to the coal mining industry. Our aim today is to return the woodland to British species including Oak.
Over the past decade, some of the paths within the wood have been widened. This will increase biodiversity as the gradual variation in habitats from path edge to mature trees provides homes for a wider range of species.
The woodland is already home to a variety of wildlife including Roe Deer, Crossbill and Great-Crested Newt and important plant species such as the Wild Service Tree.
The management plan detailing how the site is managed and looked after can be found in the visitor centre.
Volunteers
The
Friends of Haw Park Wood and Wintersett help the Countryside Officers (rangers) to manage and maintain the site. Past activities have included litter picks and supporting Countryside with family events.
If you are interested in local volunteering opportunities on this and other sites please get in touch.