Waresley & Gransden Woods

Welcome to waresleywood.co.uk, a website dedicated to providing information on all topics relating to the Waresley and Gransden Woods reserves of The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.

News - 02/07/2025

The woodland canopy is now in full leaf, giving the woods a completely different feel to the open vistas of early spring. No bluebells, but there is still plenty to see and enjoy in the woods. As always in a natural environment, visitors should take care, wear sturdy footwear and keep to the paths.

One of the paths in the wood still remains temporarily closed until the ground dries enough for the removal of ruts along it. This closure means that the first section of the re-profiled "main ride" has become a cul de sac, without exit. The second, newly profiled ride section will remain closed for two years to allow the ground to resettle and re-generate. Please respect the Trust's wishes by not entering this area.

01/07/2025 - this morning was spent working with the Trust's reserves team, mowing grass and brush cutting in the wood. Every year around this time, alternate sides of the ride are mown and the adjacent ditch cleared. Luckily most of the side to be cut was in the shade, otherwise this is very hot work indeed.

01/07/2025 - as well as grass cutting the ride, the wood's glade is also partially mown. This year, for the first time, the wood's small meadow will also be mown by tractor. Which will be alot easier for the brushcutter (ie me!).

06/06/2025 - it was a pleasure to see the return of one of the wood's rarest flowers today, the Butterfly orchid. Precariously two plants are growing right on the path edge, easy to view or damage. 55 different species of flora and fauna have been seen out of a potential 115 so far, check them out on my Sightings page

06/06/2025 - the trees are now in full leaf and the open woodland of spring is gone for another year. Time instead to enjoy the dappled sunshine filtering through the tree canopy.