Rushmere and Stockgrove and Rushmere Sandy and Everton Everton and Sandy
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original Estate. original Park forms the rest of the the of rest the forms Park around Charcoal Pond. Pond. Charcoal around gardens, Rushmere Country Country Rushmere gardens, to heathland and conserve important marshy areas, such as as such areas, marshy important conserve and heathland to with the current house and and house current the with as The Warren. The Greensand Trust is working to restore areas areas restore to working is Trust Greensand The Warren. The as two World Wars. Along Along Wars. World two plantations, these conifers were planted on a heathland, known known heathland, a on planted were conifers these plantations, houses built between the the between built houses conifers with some scattered oak trees. As with Rushmere’s Rushmere’s with As trees. oak scattered some with conifers was one of the largest country country largest the of one was Despite the name, this wood consists mostly of planted planted of mostly consists wood this name, the Despite Georgian style and the house house the and style Georgian Oak Wood Oak estate houses were built in a mock mock a in built were houses estate site of a previous property. The Stockgrove mansion and and mansion Stockgrove The property. previous a of site with birch scrub. scrub. birch with in 1928, and proceeded to have a new house built on the the on built house new a have to proceeded and 1928, in food for grazing livestock. The Heath has now grown over over grown now has Heath The livestock. grazing for food Ferdinand Michael Kroyer-Kielberg KBE purchased the estate estate the purchased KBE Kroyer-Kielberg Michael Ferdinand been cut for fuel and building materials as well as providing providing as well as materials building and fuel for cut been Stockgrove House Stockgrove would have dominated this area for thousands of years and and years of thousands for area this dominated have would Oak Heath of trees completely. Heathers, gorse and bracken bracken and gorse Heathers, completely. trees of Heath Oak Bedfordshire. greensandtrust.org greensandtrust.org Unlike Baker’s Wood, our Neolithic ancestors cleared Shire Shire cleared ancestors Neolithic our Wood, Baker’s Unlike countryside and picturesque villages in in villages picturesque and countryside wildlife. Contact the Trust on 01525 234260 or see www. see or 234260 01525 on Trust the Contact wildlife. through some of the most dramatic dramatic most the of some through Shire Oak Heath and Lords Hill Lords and Heath Oak Shire Trust on a not for profit basis for the benefit of people and and people of benefit the for basis profit for not a on Trust is 40 miles in total and passes passes and total in miles 40 is Rushmere Country Park is managed by The Greensand Greensand The by managed is Park Country Rushmere in the north east. The route route The east. north the in enabling woodland flowers to flourish. flourish. to flowers woodland enabling the Cambridgeshire border border Cambridgeshire the tree and benefits wildlife by opening up areas to sunlight, sunlight, to areas up opening by wildlife benefits and tree riding and mountain biking there is something for everyone. everyone. for something is there biking mountain and riding west to Gamlingay just across across just Gamlingay to west harvesting timber and firewood without killing the the killing without firewood and timber harvesting With woodland sculptures, natural play, plus trails for horse horse for trails plus play, natural sculptures, woodland With Leighton Buzzard in the south south the in Buzzard Leighton century. Coppicing is a traditional method of of method traditional a is Coppicing century. heronry which is at its most active in early spring. spring. early in active most its at is which heronry the Greensand Ridge from from Ridge Greensand the out in the wood until the early 20th 20th early the until wood the in out nuthatch and treecreepers – plus the spectacular spectacular the plus – treecreepers and nuthatch which crosses the county on on county the crosses which the result of coppicing which was carried carried was which coppicing of result the be seen whatever the season, including buzzard, buzzard, including season, the whatever seen be premier long distance footpath footpath distance long premier multi-stemmed oaks in Baker’s Wood Wood Baker’s in oaks multi-stemmed Rich in flora and fauna, there’s something to to something there’s fauna, and flora in Rich Greensand Ridge Walk, Bedfordshire’s Bedfordshire’s Walk, Ridge Greensand 10,000 years ago. There are many many are There ago. years 10,000 providing information to help you plan a visit. visit. a plan you help to information providing Part of the circular route follows the the follows route circular the of Part the end of the last ice age, about about age, ice last the of end the Centre serving a range of refreshments and and refreshments of range a serving Centre least 800 years and probably since since probably and years 800 least The Greensand Ridge Walk Ridge Greensand The entrance and the main Rushmere Visitor Visitor Rushmere main the and entrance Wood has been woodland for at at for woodland been has Wood visitor centres and cafes at the Stockgrove Stockgrove the at cafes and centres visitor woodland in Bedfordshire. Baker’s Baker’s Bedfordshire. in woodland heath is particularly important for invertebrates and reptiles. reptiles. and invertebrates for important particularly is heath are There views. magnificent and wildlife Wood is the largest area of deciduous deciduous of area largest the is Wood heath habitat is one of the rarest habitats in the world and this this and world the in habitats rarest the of one is habitat heath wonderful tranquillity, with explore to you for This oak woodland, along with King’s King’s with along woodland, oak This programme of pine and birch removal and grazing. Lowland Lowland grazing. and removal birch and pine of programme parkland and meadows heathland, woodland, privately owned, it is being restored to heathland through a a through heathland to restored being is it owned, privately of acres 400 over are There Ridge. Greensand Scientific Interest Scientific Rammamere Heath is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Interest, Scientific Special of Site a is Heath Rammamere the to gateway true a is Park Country Rushmere Baker’s Wood Site of Special Special of Site Wood Baker’s Rushmere Country Park Country Rushmere Rammamere Heath Heath Rammamere follows footpaths and bridleways in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire and offers an easy route for a scenic stroll. scenic a for route easy an offers and Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire in bridleways and footpaths follows Time: 1 hour 15 mins 15 hour 1 Time: This walk takes in the attractive heaths, ancient woodland, meadows, lakes and streams around Rushmere Country Park. It It Park. Country Rushmere around streams and lakes meadows, woodland, ancient heaths, attractive the in takes walk This /5.7km miles 3.5 Walk: Walk Healthy walking Other walks Why not get out and get healthy? There is no better way to To discover more walks in Central Bedfordshire visit Rushmere start than by taking a walk. Just 30 minutes a day can www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/countryside or 7 improve health and well-being, reduce the risk of heart www.letsgo.org.uk Circular walk disease, help to prevent diabetes, improve muscle strength Or why not explore the Greensand Ridge by following Walk: approx even reduce anxiety and depression. So make today the day the fabulous Greensand Ridge Walk, a walk that passes 3.5 miles/5.7km you start to enjoy Bedfordshire and enjoy good health. For through many of the area’s most valuable landscapes and Time: 1hour 15 mins information on healthy walking log on to historic towns. www.walkingforhealth.org.uk Rushmere Country Park is managed by The Greensand Planning your walk Trust, an independent environmental charity. For information please contact 01525 234260 or see Rushmere Country Park visitor centre is the suggested starting www.greensandtrust.org.uk point for the walk, which is described in a clockwise direction. Printed on paper made from 75% recycled post consumer waste However, you can walk in either direction and shorten the walk lifestyles by taking the short cut; details shown on map. Refreshments, parking and toilets 1 You can park at Rushmere Country Park throughout the year. Jan 2014 There is a café serving hot and cold drinks and snacks, and there are toilet facilities. There are shops and public houses in Heath and Reach village. 2 8 Public transport 4 5 For information contact Traveline – 0871 200 22 33. 1 The closest train station is 2.7 miles away at Leighton Buzzard. 3 6 2 Ordnance Survey maps 7 8 The route is covered on Ordnance Survey Landranger Series 4 map 165. It is also shown on Explorer map 192. Both are available from local bookshops and some petrol stations. 5 3 9 Did you enjoy the walk? 6 Crown Copyright. 10 If you have any comments about this walk All7 rights reserved. Central Bedfordshire Council. 11 or encounter any problems, please contact Licence No 100049029 (2013) [email protected] Walk 9 1 Sandy and Everton 7 Rushmere and Stockgrove Tips for enjoying your walk Crown Copyright. 10 All rights reserved. Central Bedfor2dshir e Council.Old Warden11 8 Cranfield Parts of the walk can become muddy especially after heavy Licence No 100049029 (2013) 3 Silsoe - Shillington 9 Totternhoe rain, so strong waterproof footwear is recommended. Take 4 Ampthill - Maulden 10 Dunstable Downs care where conditions are rough and do let someone know 5 Ampthill - Millbrook 11 Whipsnade where you are going.