Dukes Wood Nature Reserve

What it’s like

A free woodland trail past old oil pumps left over from Britain's first onshore oilfield, best for bluebells in spring.

The novelty here is the old 'nodding donkey' oil pumps, restored and dotted along the trail through the trees. Dukes Wood was the site of the UK's first onshore oilfield, and the industrial archaeological trail was set up back in 1987 to mark that history. Kids get a bit of proper machinery to look at alongside the usual woodland stuff, which is a nice change from just spotting birds.

The wood itself is oak, hazel and ash, with primrose, bluebell and broadleaved helleborine coming through the ground flora. April to July is the window the site points to for the best wildflowers, so a spring or early summer visit gets you the bluebells as well as the industrial trail.

Entry's free and there's parking at the side of the road. Dogs can come along but need to be on a lead. There's a toilet on site, but nothing in the way of food, so it's a walk to bring your own snacks for rather than a day out with a café stop.

It's a straightforward woodland walk rather than anything with play equipment or a visitor centre, best suited to families who fancy a couple of hours outdoors and don't mind a bit of history with their nature spotting.

What’s on here

• Attenborough in Watercolour - Painting Workshop

  A relaxing day of watercolour painting at Attenborough Nature Centre with artist Anjana Cawdell.

  →
• Beaver Enclosure Tour

  Guided walk inside the beaver enclosure near Retford to look for signs of beaver activity.

  →

Facilities

Need to know

Parking

At the side of the road

Dogs

On a lead

• Oil pumps along the trail have been restored, not just left to rust
• No café or shop on site, so bring your own food and drink
• There is a toilet on site
• Roadside parking only, so go easy if the verge is narrow or wet

Plan your visit

Areas to explore

• Dukes Wood Trail

  outdoors

  An industrial archaeological nature trail first opened in 1987, passing restored 'nodding donkey' oil pumps.

Experiences

• Nodding donkeys (restored oil pumps)

  outdoors

  Restored oil pumps from the UK's first onshore oilfield, sited around the wood adjacent to the trail.

Featured in 2 Huddlepin lists

See all Woodland & Forest in Nottingham · Things to do in Nottingham