Hesleden Dene
A small woodland with an abundance of hazel stands
Know before you go
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
March to JulyAbout the reserve
Hesleden Dene’s name derives from ‘hesle’, a corruption of ‘hazel’ hich can be found in abundance alongside ash and wych elm.
The reserve has exceptional natural exposures of magnesian limestone eroded to produce impressive outcrops with many caves and fissures.
Damp, humid conditions provide niches for impressive displays of mosses, lichens and fungi. Magnesian limestone grassland supports plants such as devils-bit scabious, common spotted orchid and twyblade. Woodland wildlife thrives with regular sightings of roe deer, fox, woodpeckers and tawny owl.
Hesleden Dene is best visited in spring for the woodland flora and autumn for the fungi and turning leaves.