Heartwood Forest, Sandridge, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL4 9DQ. Free entry and free car park

Details

Accessibility

https://heartwood.woodlandtrust.org.uk/media/1527/hw-access-statement-feb-2019_finalrevlinks.pdf

"There is a developing network of paths in Heartwood Forest including a public footpath and two bridleways. The majority of the paths are unsurfaced and can become muddy or slippery during wet weather, so please be careful and bring appropriate footwear, if necessary. There are some moderate gradients leading up from Sandridge village where facilities can be found."

"The free car park at Heartwood Forest provides parking for 55 cars, with five designated for blue badge holders. These spaces are clearly marked with a blue badge logo. There are no time restrictions on length of parking for visitors to the site, allowing you plenty of time to explore Heartwood. Just be sure to check the car park closing times on our Facilities page or in the full access statement below. https://heartwood.woodlandtrust.org.uk/media/1527/hw-access-statement-feb-2019_finalrevlinks.pdf

The car park surface is compacted stone, but has some potholes. An additional overflow car park is used on an ad hoc basis for events and exceptionally busy days – this is flat but the surface is grassed. In adverse weather conditions it can be slippery, muddy or even waterlogged.

Eight bicycle stands are available for use during your visit. They are located in front of the visitor welcome and information point."

Brief description

"There is a developing network of paths in Heartwood Forest including a public footpath and two bridleways. The majority of the paths are unsurfaced and can become muddy or slippery during wet weather, so please be careful and bring appropriate footwear, if necessary. There are some moderate gradients leading up from Sandridge village where facilities can be found."

See https://heartwood.woodlandtrust.org.uk/media/1161/9816-heartwood-access-map-v3_16285.jpg

and https://heartwood.woodlandtrust.org.uk/things-to-see-and-do/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartwood_Forest

"Heartwood Forest is a planned forest (woodland creation site) in Hertfordshire, England. The site covers 347 hectares (860 acres), the largest continuous new native forest in England.[1]Heartwood Forest is located near Sandridge, St Albans, in the Metropolitan Green Belt. When the Woodland Trust acquired the land in 2008, most of the area consisted of farmland, predominantly oilseed rape fields.[2] Only 18 hectares (44 acres) of the site's total 347 hectares (860 acres) consisted of ancient woodland.[3] The name "Heartwood" was chosen for the growing forest as a nod to the heart-shaped leaves of the rare Lime trees present in these original pockets of ancient woodland.[3]

On 9 December 2009, a Guinness World Record attempt was made for the BBC Tree O'Clock scheme, in association with the Woodland Trust to plant the most new trees as possible in one hour. Three woodland sites made the attempt: the Heartwood Forest, Hainault Forest and Gransha Park. The previous record was 18,124 trees in an hour,[4] held by the Forestry Commission at a site in Scotland.[5] The Heartwood Forest site came second, with 20,326 trees planted, being beaten by Gransha Park where they planted over 26,000 trees in the hour.[4][5]

The site officially opened on 25 March 2018.[6] Over a period of ten years, roughly 45,000 volunteers, including 17,000 school children, planted a total of 600,000 trees.[2]The original ancient forest in the area was mostly a bluebell wood.[2] New plantings focused on native species like oak, hornbeam, birch, and willow trees.[7] A community orchard of more than 600 fruit trees similarly focuses on old Hertfortshire varieties, including apple, pear and cherry trees.[2] There is also an arboretum with representatives of all 57 native British tree species, the only such collection in the UK.[2]

In addition to trees, the site contains open grassland and wildflower meadows.[2]"

Address

Heartwood Forest, Sandridge, St Albans AL4 9DQ

Email

enquiries@woodlandtrust.org.uk

heartwood.woodlandtrust.org.uk

Phone

0330 333 3300 (Mon-Fri, 8.30am to 5pm).

Website

https://heartwood.woodlandtrust.org.uk/

Directions

See https://heartwood.woodlandtrust.org.uk/media/1161/9816-heartwood-access-map-v3_16285.jpg

"The free car park at Heartwood Forest provides parking for 55 cars, with five designated for blue badge holders. These spaces are clearly marked with a blue badge logo. There are no time restrictions on length of parking for visitors to the site, allowing you plenty of time to explore Heartwood. Just be sure to check the car park closing times on our Facilities page or in the full access statement below. https://heartwood.woodlandtrust.org.uk/media/1527/hw-access-statement-feb-2019_finalrevlinks.pdf

The car park surface is compacted stone, but has some potholes. An additional overflow car park is used on an ad hoc basis for events and exceptionally busy days – this is flat but the surface is grassed. In adverse weather conditions it can be slippery, muddy or even waterlogged.

Eight bicycle stands are available for use during your visit. They are located in front of the visitor welcome and information point."

"Heartwood Forest lies on either side of the B651, sandwiched between Harpenden, Wheathampstead and Sandridge; 4.8km (three miles) north of St Albans in Hertfordshire and only 32km (20 miles) from central London. From St Albans, head north-east on the B651 and after 4km you will see a brown tourist sign pointing into the car park from the main road. The nearest postcode is AL4 9DQ.

There are several good cycle approaches to Heartwood Forest from each major village and town. Please take care if using the B651. The road is narrow, winding and busy. There are several bike stands for locking bikes in the car park.

There are good walking routes from each major village and town around Heartwood Forest. Paths become slippery and muddy when wet. Please take care crossing the B651.

For information on public footpaths in Hertfordshire please visit the Hertfordshire County Council website."

Opening Times

Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change

"The forest is open to the public free of charge, with marked trails and walking paths throughout.[8] There are also routes to allow riding bicycles or horses.[8] As of 2019, the forest attracted roughly 140,000 visitors a year.[2]"

2025: Car park opening times:

1st Jan–29th Feb, 8 am - 5 pm. 

1st Mar–28th Mar, 8 am – 6 pm. 

29th Mar–30th Sept, 8 am – 8 pm.

1st Oct–27th Oct, 8 am – 7 pm. 

28th Oct–31st Dec, 8 am – 5 pm.

Transport

2025: "There are two bus services which stop at Sandridge village, one from Hitchin to Potters Bar (via St Albans) and one from Hemel Hempstead to Hatfield via Harpenden. There is a good train service to St Albans station, 4km (2.5 miles) away. This includes Bedford to Brighton via East Croydon, Luton to Sutton via Hackbridge and Luton to Sutton via Wimbledon." See https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Amenities

Car park

Heartwood Forest is great for a picnic or for walking off a tasty pub lunch.

Why not take some provisions with you from the Sandridge Village Store (AL4 9DD)? See https://seearoundbritain.com/venues/sandridge-village-store-29-high-st-sandridge-st-albans-al4-9dd

Or pop into one of the local pubs for refreshments?

A wide variety of establishments are also available nearby in St Albans. Please visit the Enjoy St Albans website for more information.

Our nearest public toilets to Heartwood Forest are at Sandridge Village Hall. There are no baby changing facilities but nearby pubs offer facilities.
Mobile coverage is generally good outdoors using Vodafone, EE, and Three (coverage sourced from Ofcom).