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Wildlife at Maulden Wood Ampthill Forest
Bedfordshire
England
Clophill is the nearest town or village.
OS Grid Reference: TL 075390
 Maulden Wood is an attractive mix of semi-natural broadleaf woodland, acidic grassland and conifer plantations. A waymarked walk leads visitors from the lay by on a tour through the wood.
The grasslands in the centre of the wood are managed by the Greensands Trust in partnership with the Forestry Commission, and are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for the acidic grassland and heathland interest. The northern end of the wood is also an SSSI because of its importance as one of Bedfordshire's largest remnants of ancient woodland.
Mammals: Dormice have been re-introduced into this ancient woodland in a joint project with the Greensand Trust, Beds Dormouse and the People's Trust for Endangered Species. Dormice are small, elusive creatures and rarely seen.
Foxes are a delightful sight in Maulden Wood, the shy animals are best seen on a quiet sunny afternoon. Don't expect to see more than a glimpse, particularly if you have a dog with you.
Grey squirrels are a more common sight, along with hares on the heath in the middle of the wood. Muntjac deer are common in the wood, and you may spot one crossing the ride ahead of you. We have information about Badger
Birds: The pinewood in the south of Maulden is being managed to encourage nightjars and woodlarks to nest, but as yet, with no success. However, Maulden is already a great wood for migrant songbirds like the willow warblers.
Red kites from the Chilterns and Rockingham Forest re-introduction sites are increasingly common over Maulden Wood, particularly in the spring and summer. You may also see buzzard, kestrel and sparrowhawk.
Insects and reptiles: Adders have been re-introduced into this ancient woodland, but don't be alarmed. Adders won't bite unless they are trodden on or attacked by a dog. You may also see slow worms,and if you are quiet you may spot the common lizard basking in the sunshine - Maulden Wood has hundreds of these wee creatures, more than anywhere else locally. Maulden has many habitats and supports an amazing range of butterflies, which are most active on warm, sunny days in the spring and summer. Keen spotters may see dingy and grizzled skipper, small heath, small copper, clouded yellow and white admiral. And if you walk around the heath on a warm evening in July you may be lucky to see a glow worm or two. We have information about Adder Habitats: At the heart of Maulden Woods lies a flower-rich acidic grassland, a remnant of the heathland that once stretched from Sandy to Leighton Buzzard, of which now only a few fragments survive. The Commission is working closely with English Nature and the Greensand Trust to safeguard this important grassy heath from deterioration. In spring and summer you may see the white flowers of heath bedstraw and meadow saxifrage, and the purple of knapweed and heather.
Maulden Wood is an excellent example of an ancient woodland site that is being gradually restored to a semi-natural native woodland, under the Forestry Commission's innovative Ancient Woodland Project. This project aims to restore all of the Forestry Commission's ancient woodland sites in Bedfordshire by the gradual removal of planted exotics such as Corsican pine and Norway spruce. This is coupled with targeted vegetation management, species monitoring and tree management.
How to get there:
Maulden Wood is accessed from the Deadman's Hill lay by on the A6 adjacent to the wood.
Local Weather Forecast (Multimap) Enter through:
Deadman's Hill Lay By
Facilities:
   Activities:
       
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Take a healthy walk in the fresh air in this beautiful ancient woodland on the Greensand Ridge. Follow one of our waymarked walks or find your own way through the network of rides and woodland tracks. |
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Cyclists are welcome on the surfaced gravel tracks. Mountain bikers are asked to use the specialist facilities at nearby Rowney Warren Wood. |
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Other places to go in Ampthill Forest
Potton Wood
Stanford Wood
Wilstead Wood
Contact:
Northants Office
01780 444920
e-mail: northants@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
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What's of interest
Timber produced from this woodland is all certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) as coming from a well-managed woodland.
What to see now Walk quietly and you might catch a glimpse of muntjac deer, or listen out for their distinctive bark.
Did you know Maulden Wood is much bigger now than it was in the Middle Ages!
What else is here
Find out more
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