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Wildlife at Wilstead Wood Ampthill Forest
Bedfordshire
England
Wilstead is the nearest town or village.
OS Grid Reference: TL 073438
 Wilstead is an ancient woodland site which is now a pleasant mix of semi-natural broadleaf woodland and conifer plantations. The wood is being gradually restored to site-native broadleaf woodland under 'The Ancient Woodland Project'. The wood is part owned and part leased from the former Haynes Park Estate.
The wood is one of a handful of ancient woodlands in the Marston Vale Community Forest. The Marston Vale Community Forest is focused on establishing new woodlands in the landscape south of Bedford, which has been degraded by centuries of mineral extraction. Visitors are encouraged to visit the Forest Centre, half a mile east of Marston Moretaine on the Millbrook road. The centre houses a cafe, interpretation and education facilities.
Mammals: This wood is excellent for the shy muntjac deer, and if you don't make too much noise you may well spot one ahead of you as it crosses the path, or with it's tail up, showing it's white underside, as it runs off. There are also foxes, moles, voles, rabbits and grey squirrels here. We have information about Fallow deer and Badger
Birds: Turtle and collared doves, and the much rarer nightingale all nest in the failing grand fir which was planted in the 1970s in a very wet area. As a result it grew exceedingly slowly, and at 30 years old is only six feet tall in places! However, it forms a dense thicket which the nightingales favour. You'll also find chiff chaff, whitethroat, willow warbler and blackcap here during the summer.
Insects and reptiles: You'll find plenty of grass-snakes here. There are also many common species of butterfly, such as speckled wood and orange tip, together with the rarer white-letter hairstreak which lives on elm, and the white admiral, whose sole food plant is honeysuckle. Habitats: This wood is on a north-facing slope, and is a mixture of conifers such as Norway spruce and grand fir, and broadleaved trees such as oak and field maple. There is a nice clump of ancient yew trees in the north-eastern corner. The wood is gradually being restored back to native broadleaved trees under the Ancient Woodland Project.
How to get there:
Wilstead Wood can be accessed by the carriage drive from the village.
Local Weather Forecast (Multimap)
Other places to go in Ampthill Forest
Potton Wood
Stanford Wood
Maulden Wood
Contact:
Northants Office
01780 444920
e-mail: northants@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
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What to see now You may catch a glimpse of the skittish muntjac deer along the woodland rides.
Did you know There is an ancient trackway through the wood running east to west along the foot of the hill. It used to be called a "hollow-way".
What else is here
Find out more
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