Aldbury Nowers

Aldbury Nowers is situated on the Chiltern escarpment and the warm south-west facing slopes of this reserve are home to a wonderful array of chalk grassland flowers.

This habitat supports 30 different species of butterfly, making it one of the most outstanding butterfly habitats in Hertfordshire, as well as a great place to spot a range of solitary bees. The site contains one of the best remaining areas of chalk downland in the county and a very fine example of ancient "beech hanger" woodland.

Throughout the wood there are rides which, being open and sunny, abound with butterflies, including the white admiral, and other insects in the summer. It is important to keep these rides open for wildlife and to open other areas by coppicing or the removal of trees too close to the ride.

In spring the woodland rides are full of birdsong and wildflowers, including bluebell, wood anenome, early purple orchid and the rare herb paris. Breeding birds include great-spotted woodpecker and sparrowhawk.

There are many ponds in Balls Wood which vary from shallow, muddy pools to deeper more open ponds. These support a range of aquatic organisms, including great crested newts, dragonflies and toads. Surprisingly the wood is home to grass snakes and slow worms.

Photo Gallery

Tree Species at Aldbury Nowers

Since 2018 EFORESTS has worked with the land owners and local volunteers to plant 20 new native tree species.

The following tree species were planted on the site:

IMPORTANT VISITOR INFO – Take only photos. Leave only footsteps.

To keep the woodland as natural as possible we don’t label individual trees and we ask that visitors do not place their own plaques, labels, flowers, etc in the woodland. Each tree we plant should be seen as part of a natural woodland.

Before visiting this woodland, please read our Frequently Asked Questions page, which gives you helpful tips about your tree and visitor guidance.

Dedicate a tree to be planted in Hertfordshire or elsewhere in the UK.