Exploring the estate at Packwood

A view over the lake at Packwood, Warwickshire — Spring is a lovely time to explore the estate at Packwood | © John Bayley

There’s plenty to explore beyond the boundaries of Packwood House. Miles of public footpaths in the surrounding estate take in fields, woodland and canals. Find out more about the places to discover at Packwood and the flora and fauna that you might see along the way.

Spring on the estate

Birds to spot

Birds such as cuckoos and chiffchaffs arrive in March and April and their distinctive sounds can be heard all over Packwood. Both birds have onomatopoeic names relating to their calls and the chiffchaff is a very active little bird, constantly flicking their tails while looking for food. You may be lucky enough to see one catching insects in flight.

If you take a stroll around, you’re sure to spot the Canada geese and their young over the spring months. Make sure you give them plenty of space as they’re very protective of their goslings.

You will also be able to spot a large number of mallards on the lake and are one of our most adaptable birds. You can often hear them before you see them, especially if the female is summoning her ducklings who have strayed a little too far.

Across in the woodland, nuthatches are a regular sight and can often be spotted climbing up the trees. They are beautifully coloured birds with a little black stripe across their eyes.

Our grey herons are often seen standing motionless, searching for small fish and amphibians. They look almost prehistoric when they take off and once in the air they are often mistaken for birds of prey.

Amphibians galore

Spring is the time to find frog spawn and strings of toad spawn in the pools around Packwood. The ponds in the woodland are all good breeding places for our resident frogs, toads and newts. Frogs and toads hibernate over the winter months under rocks or in compost heaps.

Other sights to see

Spring is the perfect time of year to see queen bees buzzing around looking for a place to make a new colony.
And if you are really lucky you may be able to see a pair of boxing hares while walking in the estate. If you do see hares boxing it is not two males fighting over mates or territory as you may think, but it is the female trying to fight off the male.

Recently we've spotted a pair of swans gliding across the lake, fingers crossed they'll make Packwood their home and we may even get some cygnets.

View across the lake at Packwood House, Warwickshire, on a winter's day. The trees surrounding the lake are leafless and the sun breaks through the clouds. — View across the lake at Packwood House | © National Trust Images/Abi Cole

Walking around the estate

Pull on your walking boots and discover the Warwickshire countryside surrounding Packwood. Take a gentle stroll up to St Giles Church, or head out on a longer walk through the Arden countryside and along the Stratford-upon-Avon canal to neighbouring Baddesley Clinton.

St Giles Church

This village church dates from the late thirteenth century. The tower was built at the expense of Nicholas Brome, Lord of Baddesley Clinton Manor, who discovered the priest ‘chockinge his wife under ye chinne’ and murdered him on the spot. As a penance, after pardons from the Pope and the King, he financed the towers at Packwood and Baddesley churches.

The Stratford-upon-Avon canal

The nearby canal runs from Birmingham’s suburbs to Shakespeare’s Stratford in 25 picturesque miles. The canal is split into a northern and a southern section, the latter restored by the National Trust between 1961 and 1964. The revived canal was re-opened by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1964.

Walk maps are available to pick up from the new-build on arrival.

Family fun

Ideal for families, don your wellies and set off on an adventure along Packwood’s Welly Walk. There's den building, wildlife spotting, music making and more along the way. The route gets very muddy so, as the walk's name suggests, wellies are a must. The welcome team can point you in the right direction.