Whipsnade Chalk Quarries and Downland As Well As Grassland with Walk: Approx
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Walk Circular walks 11 This walk covers a variety of terrain including heathland, Whipsnade chalk quarries and downland as well as grassland with Walk: approx. 4.5 miles/7.2km Time: 2.5 hours the opportunity to see a variety of flowers and wildlife. lifestyles Whipsnade Planting began in 1930 by Edmund Kell Blyth assisted and hazel with displays The village of Whipsnade was not named in the by Albert Bransom as a memorial to three friends who of bluebells and wood Domesday Survey and was possibly an amalgamation of had perished during the First World War. anemones in the spring. lands recorded in 1086 from Eaton Bray and Studham and possibly Totternhoe, indeed during the 12th Whipsnade Green Dunstable Downs Century much of the parish was still wilderness. A settler This is part of a network of 213 Commons found The downland landscape is very distinctive with rolling named Wibba cleared a piece of the woodland giving throughout the Chiltern Hills and the Chilterns Area hills, steep escarpments, fine views and areas of open the parish the 13th Century name of ‘Wibba’s Snaed’. of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and is much grassland and scrub. valued locally as an area of open access land with a The church of St Mary Magdalen at Whipsnade was first strong local community interest in its use. The chalk was formed at the bottom of a shallow, mentioned in 1228, the tower, built from bricks possibly warm sea approximately 70 million years ago by the obtained from the dell in the field behind the church, Typical of many of the Chilterns Commons the Green accumulation of the remains of microscopic plants and dates from 1590 whilst the nave is more recent dating has undergone changes, particularly since the end of animals on the seabed. When sea levels fell and became from 1719, the pulpit inside is 17th Century. the Second World War and the decline in traditional hay dry land, erosion sculpted the dry valleys and rounded making and grazing has resulted in an increase in scrub hills that we see today. Tree Cathedral and rougher grasses. The Tree Cathedral is a tranquil place for worship and Chalk grassland is a very rare habitat that was meditation and is designed to match the ground plan The meadows are a most attractive part of the traditionally managed by large flocks of sheep; this kept of a medieval cathedral. It is not consecrated, but Green and the habitat gives the Green its distinct the downs open and alive with wild flowers and insects. occasionally hosts services, and is permanently open to ‘commonland’ character. the public without charge. Owned by the National Trust Gradually sheep grazing declined, and after World War it is managed and funded by the Trustees of Whipsnade Whipsnade Heath ll ceased altogether; this meant that the Downs became Tree Cathedral. Whipsnade Heath was once an area of open heath but overgrown and scrub began to invade threatening since the decline of sheep grazing, trees and scrub the grassland communities, and resulted in the The plantings are laid out to form a nave, transepts, have colonised much of the site. The Heath offers an disappearance of some grasses and flowers. Fortunately, and chancel for public worship, chapels for private interesting mosaic of grassland, scrub and woodland, again sheep are grazing part of the Downs and prayer and remembrance, cloisters for meditation, and mainly consists of dense scrub areas with a volunteers help to keep the grassland open, allowing and a cloister garden for relaxation with a dew pond mixture of hawthorn, elder and blackthorn. The more a varied mix of grassland and scrub to benefit as many at its centre. open woodland areas include oak, wild cherry, beech species as possible. Walk Circular walks 11 Whipsnade Walk: approx. 4.5 miles/7.2km Time: 2.5 hours Healthy walking Ordnance Survey maps Why not get out and get healthy? There is no better The route is covered on Ordnance Survey Explorer map way to start than by taking a walk. Just 30 minutes 182 available from local bookshops and some petrol 1 a day can improve health and well-being, reduce the stations. risk of heart disease, help to prevent diabetes, improve 2 muscle strength even reduce anxiety and depression. Did you enjoy the walk? 8 So make today the day you start to enjoy Bedfordshire This is one of a series of circular walk leaflets produced 4 and enjoy good health. For information on healthy by Central Bedfordshire Council. If you wish to 5 walking log on to www.walkingforhealth.org.uk request a leaflet, give us some feedback or report any 3 problems encountered, please contact us on 0300 Planning your walk 6 300 8085 or e-mail us on recreational.routes@ 7 The car park at Dunstable Downs is the suggested centralbedfordshire.gov.uk starting point and the route is described in an anti- clockwise direction. However, you can begin at any Tips for enjoying your walk point and walk in either direction. 9 Parts of the walk can become muddy especially Crown Copyright. 10 All rights reserved. after heavy rain, so strong waterproof footwear is Central Bedfordshire Council. 11 Licence No 100049029 (2013) Refreshments, parking and toilets recommended. Take care where conditions are rough The Chilterns Gateway Centre at Dunstable Downs and do let someone know where you are going. Please has adequate parking, toilet facilites and refreshments be aware that much of the walk is unsuitable for Walk available throughout the year during the opening wheelchairs and difficult for pushchairs. 1 Sandy and Everton 7 Rushmere and Stockgrove 2 Old Warden 8 Cranfield times displayed. There is also limited parking (approx 3 Silsoe - Shillington 9 Totternhoe 7 spaces) at Whipsnade Heath car park. Other walks 4 Ampthill - Maulden 10 Dunstable Downs 5 Ampthill - Millbrook 11 Whipsnade To discover more walks in Central Bedfordshire visit 6 Woburn - Eversholt Greensand Ridge walk Public transport www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/countryside or For information contact Traveline 0871 200 22 33. www.letsgo.org.uk The closest train station is at Luton, on the Bedford to Or why not explore the Greensand Ridge by following St. Pancras Thameslink Line contact Traveline or www. the fabulous Greensand Ridge Walk, a walk that passes @BedsCountryside thameslink.co.uk through many of the area’s most valuable landscapes and historic towns www.centralbedfordshire.gov. CBCountryside uk/greensand Central Bedfordhire’s Travel Choices has Walk From the Chilterns Gateway 8 Continue through woodland, Circular walks supported the printing of this leaflet. 1 Travel Choices is a Sustainable Travel Centre walk down past the follow the footpath straight on and Transport project for Dunstable, Windcatcher and turn left on to the to kissing gate and cross into 11 Leighton Buzzard and Houghton Regis. bridleway. pasture, cross field to roadside Whipsnade For further information, please visit www.cbtravelchoices.co.uk opposite Greenend Farm. Walk: 4.5 miles/7.2km Time: 2.5 hours 2 Continue along the bridleway, through the gate into a grazing 9 Cross the road and follow the meadow with a line of beach trees footpath to the right of Old then a woodland on your left. Greenend Farm which leads down This route can be walked in onto Codlings Bank. Walk Central Bedfordhire’s Travel Choicconjunctiones has with FrCiromcular the Chilt Walkerns 10 Gateway Continue3 Leave thr theough gr woodland,azing area through supported the printing of this leaflet. 1 8 Circular walks – Dunstable DownsCentr toe walkcreat downe a past the followthe the gat footpathe and immediatstraight onely turn In the valley bottom turn left Travel ChoicNes is a Sustainable Travel 10 Robertson and Transport project for Dunstable,longerCentral Bedfroutordhire.e’Windcatchers Travel Choices andhas turn left on to the to kissingleft andgate c andontiune cross along into the through kissing gate and walk Walk Corner 1 From the Chilterns Gateway 8 Continue through woodland, Circular walks Leighton Buzzard and Houghton Rsupporegis.Centrtedal Bedfthe printingordhire’ sof Tr avelthis leaflet.Choices has bridleway following the sunken lane. diagonally uphill across pasture to go 11 Walk 14 bridleway. 1CentrFrome walk thepastur Chiltdowne, ernscr pastoss Gat fieldtheeway to roadside8followContinue the f ootpaththrough strwoodland,aight on Whipsnade For further information, please visitTravel Choices is a Sustainable Travel Circular walks supported the printing of this leaflet. through kissing gate by telegraph www.cbtravelchoices.co.uk and Transport project for Dunstable, WindcatcherCentre oppositandwalk turn downe GrlefDir eenendpastt onectly theto theafFarm.ter the to house,kissingfollow turngat thee and footpath cross intstroaight on Walk: 4.5 miles/7.2km Time: 2.5 hours Travel Choices is a SustainableContinue Travel along the bridleway, 4 pole and continue straight on and Leightandon Tr ansporBuzzartd pr andoject2 Hought for Dunstable,on Regis. Windcatcher and turnlef leftt thr onough to the the gapto kissing in the gate and cross into 11 Chilterns bridleway. pasture, cross field to roadside Whipsnade For further information, thrpleaseough visit the gate into a grazing Cross the road and follow the through kissing gate in chain link Leighton Buzzard and Houghton Regis. 9 11 Gateway www.cbtravelchoices.co.uk bridleway. fence, follow the footpathoppositpastur alongee, Gr creenendoss the field F toarm. roadside Whipsnade For further information, please visit Centre meadow with a line of beach treesContinue alongfootpath the bridleway to the right, of Old fence. Walk: 4.5 miles/7.2km Time: 2.5 hours www.cbtravelchoices.co.uk 2 side of the house boundaryopposit toe Gra eenend Farm. Walk: 4.5 miles/7.2kmStart point Time: 2.51 hours then a woodland on your left. ContinueGreenend along theFarm bridleway which leads, down This route can be walked in 2through the gatkissinge into gat a gre,azing walk through9 Cr theoss fieldthe road and followEnter the tree plantation and follow through the gate into a grazing Cross the road and11 follow the meadow withont a lineo withCodlings of beach fencing Bank.