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 - 15/06/2026

The paths within the woods continue to remain dried out and cracked despite the recent showery weather. However, sturdy footwear should still be worn, due to the very uneven surfaces in some places! As always in a natural environment, visitors should take care and be aware of their surroundings and keep to the paths at all times.

One of the paths in the wood still remains temporarily closed. 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 remains closed for a prolonged period to allow the ground to resettle and re-generate. Please respect the Trust's wishes by not entering these areas.

12/06/2026 - first sighting for 2026 of betony flowering in Brownes' Pieces. Betony can also be seen in the wood as well, particularily in the glade. In the past, grass cut from the glade was scattered along the rides in Brownes' Pieces, establishing more new betony-rich areas.

Click on this link to browse the latest updated Sightings of 2026. To date, 72 species out of 127, have been seen or heard.

12/06/2026 - until recently this path was a scene of devastation following the felling of ash dieback affected trees. But now with the removal of shade, the path and its adjacent edges are greened up with grasses, regrowing coppiced hazel and planted saplings.

05/06/2026 - a view down the first section of the re-profiled main ride. The left hand side, felled 3 to 4 years ago, is maturing nicely. The planted saplings on right hand side have yet to emerge from their protective sleeves. The ride itself is home to a number of wildflowers, ragged robin, cuckoo flower and orchids that all like the wet conditions that can found here.

05/06/2026 - Brownes' Pieces is just a sea of white floating ox eye daisies at the moment. A photo doesn't fully capture how many flowers there are here.