Tunman Wood

Tunman Wood is a local nature reserve covering more than fifty hectares near Eagle and Swinethorpe in Lincolnshire. It is one of the county’s oldest woodlands, first recorded in 1774. The Forestry Commission managed the site from the 1940s until 2009. Lincolnshire County Council, North Kesteven District Council and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust bought it from Lafarge Aggregates that year. Ancient oaks and ash dominate the canopy, with hazel and hawthorn in the understorey. Bluebells carpet the woodland floor in spring. The wood is recognised for its rich birdlife and invertebrate populations. Over sixty species of birds have been recorded, including sparrowhawks and tawny owls. Woodpeckers drill into veteran trees, and warblers nest in the dense shrubs. Butterflies such as the speckled wood and silver-washed fritillary flutter along sunlit rides. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust lists the site as a priority habitat for rare saproxylic beetles. Visitors follow a network of waymarked paths that wind through the wood. A central ride leads to a small pond where dragonflies hover in summer. Information boards explain the woodland’s history and ecology. Benches placed beside the tracks offer places to rest and watch the birds. The reserve sits quietly between farmland and quiet lanes, giving a sense of seclusion.