This narrow, step bank of ash and field maple woodland, just between St Ives and Houghton, is approximately 500 metres long and home to a variety of native woodland animals and plants. The main footpath alongside it forms part of the Ouse Valley Way which runs from Eaton Socon to Earith.

To contact the Rangers at the Thicket please call the Hinchingbrooke Country Park on (01480) 451568

Along the Thicket you can:

• enjoy a tranquil, woodland setting
• watch the birds
• have a picnic

Access

Access is from two entrances at either end of the woodland off the Thicket path. A public footpath runs north from the western access before turning west across the fields. A permissive path traverses the site and returns to the entrance at the eastern end of the wood. There are benches along the way. The Thicket is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs and some of the paths may become slippery when wet. Please take your litter home, broken plastic and glass can injure or kill living things. Dogs are welcome but please keep them under close control so they do not disturb the nesting birds.

History and wildlife

Old maps of St Ives show that woodland has covered the area of hillside for a long time. It is thought that such a steep slope on heavy clay was not considered suitable for cultivation and was left to grow trees. Old Ash "coppice stools" on the northern boundary show that timber was regularly harvested from the site. The presence of Spurge Laurel also shows the wood has been there for some time since it is considered an ancient woodland indicator. It's lime green flowers can be seen in late winter, welcome nectar for early spring insects.

Sweet Violet can be seen on sunny days in the spring or you may spot King Alfred's cakes growing on dead ash trees. There is plenty of dead wood - left standing and in piles, which encourages invertebrates, such as lesser stag beetles, many of those species provide food for birds, including green woodpeckers.