| Lying on the outskirts of Stevenage,
Pryor's Wood is an impressive mixed woodland that is rich in
wildlife.
Pryor's Wood is predominantly old secondary oak woodland but contains a variety of other areas such as hornbeam and hazel coppice. Other trees include ash, field maple and some extraordinary specimens of wild cherry. In places the woodland floor is carpeted with bluebells and dog's mercury, particularly under the hornbeam trees. Bracken and bramble become dominant under the oak. Violet helleborine, primrose, wood anenome and yellow archangel also appear in places. Muntjaac and fallow deer are common in the wood, although they are often more evident from their tracks than from being sighted. More often seen is a glimpse of a sparrowhawk speeding along the woodland edges. In summer the wood is alive with the song of warblers, such as blackcap, chiffchaff and garden warbler, which are summer visitors. Pryor's Wood is owned by North Herts Council and managed by the Trust. |
 The management regime is designed to encourage diversity of
species and some coppicing is undertaken to create open glades. |
| Visiting |
 From Stevenage take the A1072 (Martins Way) until it meets Gresley
Way, to the right. The reserve entrance is a short way along Gresley Way,
on the left, to the right of a large gate. |
 Bus stop in Ascot Crescent; train station in stevenage. |
 Accessible at all times. |
 Spring for bluebells. |
 Good walking shoes recommended. |