Balls Wood

{{Short description|Nature reserve in Hertfordshire, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}

thumb

Balls Wood is a {{convert|58.5|hectare|acre|adj=on}} nature reserve managed by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust in Hertford Heath in East Hertfordshire. The wood was purchased by the Trust from the Forestry Commission.{{cite journal|url=http://www.ehpeople.org/issues/stories/balls-wood-saved|title= Wildlife trust saves Balls Wood|journal=East Herts People|date=1 April 2009 |accessdate= 15 February 2015}}

The northern part has mature coppiced hornbeams together with ash and field maple. There are breeding birds such as great spotted woodpeckers and sparrowhawks.{{cite web|url=http://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/balls-wood|title=Balls Wood|publisher=Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust|accessdate=15 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215161032/http://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/balls-wood|archive-date=2015-02-15|url-status=dead}} The site also has open rides which provide a habitat for insects such as white admiral butterflies and wild flowers including bluebells, wood anemones and early purple orchids. There are many ponds which support aquatic invertebrates.{{cite web|url=http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/uk/balls-wood.html#cr|title=Balls Wood Nature Reserve|publisher=Wildlife Extra|accessdate=15 February 2015}}

There is access by going along The Roundings from London Road past Hertford Heath nature reserve, turning right along Elbow Lane and left into Balls Wood.{{cite web|url=http://data.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/Balls%20Wood%20Map%20Final%20Version%207%20copyrighted.pdf|title=Map of Balls Wood, Hobbyhouse Wood and Hertford Heath nature reserves|publisher =Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust|accessdate=15 February 2015}}