Rectory Wood, Cranfield

We started planting at Rectory Wood in 2003 in phases, and completed it ten years later in early 2013. It’s 70 hectares (or 173 acres) running alongside Cranfield, and is one of our biggest sites in the Forest.

Did you know –Areas of the woodland are specifically planted with blackthorn and oak trees to provide food for black hairstreak butterflies (adults and larvae) to encourage them to expand their colony to a wider area.

There are picnic tables, benches and information boards across the site, with mown and surfaced paths that are level enough for buggies and wheelchairs. There is also a geocaching trail on this site.

How to get there:

There is no parking available at this woodland - so please do not drive there!
Access from: Holywell Road and Rectory Lane

Circular walk from the Forest Centre (10 miles)

Nearby: The Bourne Potter Trail (2.5 miles)
Cranfield to Hulcote Wood (10 miles)

Cycle

Nearby routes: Route 51 (length varies) from Oxford to Milton Keynes, Sandy and Cambridge.

Horse ride

Circular ride from the Forest Centre (10 miles)
Horse riding is permitted throughout Rectory Wood

Entrances

Our handy map below shows all of the entrances to the site:

For more information, or to report an issue at any of these sites please call 01234 767037 or email us.

---

Help us look after this site

Money doesn't grow on trees - donate now

If your friends and family use Rectory Wood then please let them know that it is run by the Forest of Marston Vale and not the council. Land is expensive and managing woodlands is expensive. It isn't as simple as putting a tree in the ground and walking away - it costs £20 to plant one tree and look after it for 5 years. So trees don't cost the earth, but they might just save it.