Category Archives: Places to Visit

Great places to go and see wildlife.

Working Woodland Centre, Clophill

The Working Woodlands Centre (WWC) provides infrastructure and support for the protection and enhancement of both the local environment and rural economy. It intends to stimulate new and support existing sustainable woodland enterprise, tourism and opportunities for communities to be involved and benefit from their environment.

It is situated at Deadman’s Hill Lay-by off the A6 between Bedford and Luton. It is adjacent to Maulden Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest, a 250 expanse of woodland and meadows.

Duck End NR, Maulden

Duck End is the remnants of Maulden Moor and is a good all-round Nature Reserve managed by the Greensand Trust.

Three man-made ponds are managed particularly to benefit dragonflies but the site is also good for butterflies and birds.

Flitton Moor

Owned by Bedfordshire County Council and managed by the Greensand Trust with help from the Friends of Flitton Moor, the site is a good place for butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, grasshoppers and flowers. There is also a gentle perimeter walk around the site.

Dunstable Downs

A National Trust property overlooking chalk downland: good for views, walks, and spotting birds, butterflies and wild flowers.

Jordans Mill

Jordans Mill is situated just to the south-west of Biggleswade on the banks of the River Ivel. As well as seeing a working flour mill, there’s a visitor centre, shop and café.

Baulk Wood

Baulk Wood is a former landfill site transformed into a mixed habitat of woodland and meadow by planting a selection of trees and wildflowers. It’s a a great place for a picnic with surfaced paths through the wood and firm grassy paths around the meadow. There are several natural play areas both for the young and the young-at-heart, together with a small car park..

The flower meadow attracts butterflies in summer and the woodland is home to birds.

King’s Wood and Rammamere Heath

At King’s Wood and Rammamere Heath you can find displays of bluebells in spring and heather in summer. The rides in King’s Wood are good for butterflies and there is a pond which supports many dragonfly species.

Felmersham Gravel Pits

The disused and flooded Felmersham Gravel Pits are managed as a nature reserve and provide a protected area for varieties of flora and fauna. It is an important bird sanctuary, both as a breeding site and for birds on migration. It has a good population of dragonflies, too.

The “felmersham.net” website has a page with a map.

Moggerhanger Park

The Woodland Nature Trail at Moggerhanger Park takes you through the garden woods where snowdrops and bluebells can be found, depending on the season.

The grounds are open daily between 10am and 4pm and entry is free.

Old Warden Tunnel

Old Warden Tunnel, once part of the railway line between Bedford and Hitchen, is a home to a variety of plant and animal life.

This Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve is also promoted by Bedfordshire’s Let’s Go website.