Panshanger Park, Hertford

Panshanger Park is situated off Theives Lane on the west side of Hertford, Herts, UK, is owned by the Tarmac Company; https://panshangerpark.tarmac.com/events/ and managed in cooperation with the Herts and Middx Wildlife Trust; https://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/. Originally owned by the Earl of Cowper it was landscaped in about 1800 by Humphry Repton, when the Broadwater Lake was constructed. The park was used for gravel extraction for many years and was opened to the public in stages from 2014 to 2021. It covers 400 hectares surrounding the River Mimram, one of Hertfordshires chalk rivers. It’s a great place for seeing dragonflies and damselflies.

The entrance car park, off Theives Lane
The Osprey Lake
River Mimram
River Mimram
The Panshanger Oak, believed to be about 800 years old, 7.5m girth
Winding track through the woods
Broadwater Lake
Admiring Broadwater Lake
River Mimram
River Mimram
River Mimram
Mistletoe bough in winter
Returning to Theives Lane car park
Shorthorn cattle
Touchdown
Azure Damselfly
Wildflower meadow
Coltsfoot
Bluebells
Rhododendron
Anchusa
Dandelion seed head
Hawthorn berries
Gelder Rose berries
Spindle tree berries
Robin’s Pincushon Gall
Slime mould
Puffball
Shaggy Ink Cap fungus