Sharphill Wood near Edwalton has received its fourth Green Flag Award!
Last updated: 17/7/2026
Sharphill Wood near Edwalton has once again been recognised as one of the UK's best green spaces, receiving its fourth consecutive Green Flag Award.
The 10-hectare woodland is among 2,391 parks and green spaces across the UK to achieve the prestigious accreditation, which is regarded as the international benchmark for the quality management of recreational outdoor spaces. The award comes as the Green Flag Award scheme celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Designated as a nature reserve in 2010, Sharphill Wood is managed in partnership between Rushcliffe Borough Council, the Friends of Sharphill Wood (FoSW) and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
The mixed broadleaf woodland features mature ash, beech, English oak and lime trees, providing a rich habitat for a wide range of wildlife.
Badgers, foxes, brown hares and rabbits all call the woodland home, while bird species regularly spotted include woodpeckers, treecreepers, nuthatches and jays. In the surrounding scrubland, visitors may also see linnets, common whitethroats and yellowhammers.
Volunteers have been carrying out nest box surveys for several years, and the latest spring bird survey recorded 33 species such as woodpeckers, nuthatches and jays.
There’s also an abundance of standing and lying deadwood providing an important habitat and supporting a range of fungal species.
A family nature trail has been created by a volunteer and is available to download from the FoSW website.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Wellbeing, ICT and Member Development Cllr Jonathan Wheeler said: “We're delighted to raise the Green Flag once again and celebrate Sharphill Wood's fourth consecutive award. It highlights the nature reserve as one of the best green spaces in the country.
“With three official entrances, visitors and dog walkers can enjoy stunning views across Rushcliffe and beyond, while exploring 2.6 kilometres of footpaths and nature trails.
“Thank you to the FoSW volunteer group, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, our officers and our Streetwise team for their continued hard work and dedication in conserving this historic woodland.
“Together, we'll continue to protect and enhance this peaceful and scenic nature reserve, supporting biodiversity and ensuring it remains a wonderful place to visit for years to come.
FoSW Chair Chrissie Wells added: “Our members are very happy that we have again achieved this award through hard work and vigilance over threats to the diversity and health of Sharphill Wood.
“Sharphill Wood needs a Wildlife Hedge Corridor to increase diversity of wildlife, and we’re pressing local developers for this promised essential project that would further enhance biodiversity within the wood and the surrounding area, to ensure it continues to receive Green Flag status.
“With this renewed award we feel proud to accept with thanks our amazing new tool storage room in the new Community Hall, which will greatly support our volunteering activities.”
The Friends of Sharphill Wood was formed in 2008 with the aim of enhancing the woodland for the local community and its flora and fauna. The friendly group has 97 members, with around 10-20 people meeting once a month to perform practical management work and acting as liaison between visitors, NWT and RBC.
If you would like to volunteer and join the Friends of Sharphill Wood group, email sharphillwood@yahoo.co.uk.
The Green Flag Award is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under contract from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.