Getting to the park

The park lies in the south west of the Shephall area between Woodcock Road, Gresley Way and Shephall Way.

Ridlins Park
Woodcock Road
Stevenage
Herts
SG2 9QZ

By Car

The park can be accessed from Woodcock Road, off Gresley Way. The car park is at the main entrance and has disabled parking.

On foot

Pedestrians can access the park from points around the edge of the park through the surrounding residential areas of Ridlins End, Gonville Crescent, Gresley Way, Kestral Close and Ridlins Wood.

Cycle Access

A shared use cycle track and footpath runs adjacent to the eastern and southern boundaries of the park.

Public Transport

Residential areas bordering the park and Gresley Way benefit from a bus service providing excellent access to those who rely on public transport.

Ridlins Wood

This 7 hectare wood is situated on Shephall Way between Shephall and the Poplars.

Ridlins Wood is an ancient woodland site. This is defined as an area of land which has been continuously wooded since at least 1600AD. This type of woodland, which is now very rare, provides a habitat which, due to the undisturbed nature of the soil, can never again be reproduced. It is home to species of plant and animal which cannot easily adapt to changing conditions. Probably the best loved and well known of which is the Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), whose spectacular spring display often gives such woodlands the local name of the ‘Bluebell woods’.

Ridlins Wood is divided up into several compartments. Entering from Shephall Way, you will find yourself amongst old, large, Hornbeam and Ash coppice with Oak standards. This area has not been managed since before World War 2 so the individual stems of the coppice are at least 80 years of age while the coppice stools themselves are probably several hundred years old.

Walking through the wood on your left, alongside Ridlins Park, you will see rows of mixed conifer trees consisting of Larch, Pine and Spruce. The similar sized Oaks and Ash are reputed to have been planted by Italian prisoners of war during World War 2.

Further on, on your right, you will enter an area consisting of mainly broadleaved trees of a variety of species established in the early 1980’s. These are now being managed for the benefit of local wildlife as well as a recreational amenity for local residents.

Local Parks