A story-telling audio guide exploring the social and ecological history of Nottingham’s largest nature reserve and most important green space.
This unique and free to use story-telling trail brings the history and landscape of Colwick Woods to life over 24 tracks of stories, memories, and information told to you by a cast of 15 voices. You can choose to walk the whole route (taking around two and a half hours), take advantage of some short cuts (shaving off around an hour), walk the route in sections of your own choosing, or even just listen to it at home (although we wouldn’t recommend that).
You can download the route instructions and map below and print it out to take with you on the walk, although the instructions on the audio are very clear and – as long as you start in the right place (by the playground on Greenwood Road, opposite Ripon Road, NG3 7FS / what3words: lungs.moon.bless) – you shouldn’t get lost.
The audio can be streamed here (or on a variety of other platforms as listed below). You can also download these tracks to your device from the links below (just click on those three dots to the right) if you’d rather do that (and save your data!).
1. By the playground on Greenwood Road
2. At the top of the path into the woods
3. At the bottom of Mile Run
4. At the top of Mile Run
5. The bench in front of the reservoirs
6. The walk to West View
7. West View
8. Leaving West View
9. At the end of the reservoir railings, with the mast off to the left
10. By the steps to the south railings
11. The bench opposite Keeper’s Cottage clearing
12. The spring
13. The ice house
14. The cliffs (or Colwick Cutting) – a Site of Special Scientific Interest
15. The lightning tree
16. View of Colwick Hall
17. At the public footpath sign heading into the main field
18. Heading into the eastern woods
19. Heading into V-Valley
20. The bench overlooking V-Valley
21. Turning into the old allotments site
22. Bench on the old allotments site
23. Bench on the path leading into the main field
24. Across the field to the playground
The audio can also be streamed from the following links (and, if you have subscriptions with any of these, you should be able to download them as well):
The Colwick Woods Audio Guide | Podcast on Spotify
Stream Excavate | Listen to The Colwick Woods Audio Guide playlist online for free on SoundCloud
More to be added soon.
The Colwick Woods Audio Guide is written and directed by Andy Barrett, with script advice by Richard Brown. It was recorded by Rich Collins at the Snug Recording Company with sound design by Adam McCready. The narrator is Summaya Mughal and the readers are: Trev Clarke, Michael Eaton, Susan Gardner, Rick Hall, Mel Hamilton, Sam Musgrave, Ken Ogborn, Glynda Preston, Francesca Short, Ian Smith, Reece George Soar, Martha Speed and Phil Tutt-Hughes. The map and logo was designed by Tom Partridge.
Thanks to those who helped with the research, especially the Friends of Colwick Woods, Richard Brown, Edmund Hopkins, and Jackie Woods. And to the many people who gave their time and shared their stories that have been at the heart of this audio guide.
The project has been produced by Excavate and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund using money raised by National Lottery players.
