Brogborough Gateway Trail

1. From the picnic site take the sign posted path leading to the Woodland Trust Site, crossing a disused road on your way. Go through the gates past the information board and you will enter into a clearing. Walk straight ahead towards the far end of the clearing where there is a plaque commemorating the naming of the new wood.

In total 60,000 trees have been planted around the site. Species planted are all deciduous and include oak, ash, field maple, aspen, wild cherry, willow and a variety of shrubs such as hawthorn and field rose. Progress of the trees is monitored and a careful programme of maintenance has been implemented. Any trees which do not survive are replaced each winter and each tree is weeded annually until the young tree is firmly established. After that they are able to look after themselves as they grow. All of the planted trees are protected individually by plastic guards to prevent damage from rabbits eating the trees.

2. From the plaque take the ride (path through a woodland) in front of you and walk to the bottom of the hill. Cross the footbridge in front of you and follow the ride straight ahead until you come to another clearing. (You can see Brogborough Manor Farm to your left).

Brogborough Manor Farm has been used in the past as a conservation link farm which showed practical examples of how landscape and wildlife conservation can be combined with modern farming. Hedgerows, ponds and woodland are well managed and already 11,000 trees have been planted and 14 ponds dug out.

The existing farmhouse at Manor Farm is an interesting chequer brickwork building, owing much to the 18th and 19th centuries but with origins in the 17th century. It may possibly be the original farmhouse on the site. The Duke of Bedford owned the property between 1703 and 1882.

3. Keep to the right of the clearing and follow the ride that leads to the junction half way down the hill (for those walkers taking the short walk turn right at the junction and skip to section 11). At this point turn left. When you come to the next junction turn right and follow the corridor of land for approximately 450m.

In this area you can see some of the ridge and furrow earthworks which are evidence of medieval farming methods. Ridge and furrow patterns were created by ploughing across many heavy soils of lowland England. Ironically, much of this important ridge and furrow has been ploughed flat by modern day farm machinery. Planting has been sensitive here in order not to damage archaeological interest of the feature.

4. On reaching the meadow continue straight ahead for the waymark post which is approximately in line from where you have just walked. On reaching the waymark post take a left turn through the trees.

The meadow, created by the Woodland Trust, covers an area of 36 acres and has been sown with a grass and wildflower seed mixture. On the far side of the meadow, beside Hulcot Wood, is a fenced area. Instead of planting trees close to the existing wood these areas have been left to see if the seeds of mature trees will be dispersed and grow naturally. This is what is known as natural regeneration. The fence is there to protect any regeneration from rabbit damage.

5. You will pass a waymark post and cross over a ride. At the next waymark post follow the ride which bends round to the right. This leads to the corner of Hulcot Wood. Although the area of tree planting to your left is not waymarked, you are welcome to explore this at your leisure before rejoining this route.

6. Go through the gate at the corner which leads into the wood and continue straight ahead past the pond for about 450m. When you reach the junction at the bottom of the hill turn left and walk straight ahead passing the clearing to the right. Continue walking down the hill and on reaching the bottom turn right and follow the ride in front of you.

Part of Hulcot Wood is semi natural ancient woodland which means there has been a wood on this site since medieval times. Historical records first recorded the wood in the Anglo Saxon period. During the medieval period much woodland clearance took place for arable agriculture. During the 12th and 13th centuries the final clearances took place and left only remnants of the original woodland behind. On the first edition Ordnance Survey map of around 1820 Hulcot Wood was actually a cluster of smaller woods with an area of pasture between them. By 1911 the wood was a single block as it is today.

7. At the bottom of the ride the path splits in two, take the path which goes straight ahead. The path bends round to the right. Follow the waymark posts until you come to a junction at which you should turn right and follow the ride up the hill towards the pond.

The main trees to be seen in the wood are ash and field maple with some oak and hazel. Owls, Muntjac deer and all three species of woodpecker are just a few of the birds and animals that can be found in this area. The wood is particularly attractive in spring when the bluebells, wood anemone and primrose are in flower.

8. At this point take the path immediately to your left which skirts around the edge of the pond and up a steep hill. At the top of the hill turn left and before you reach the gate go through the gap on the right bringing you out at the top of the meadow.

9. From here walk straight down the hill keeping the hedge to your left until you come to a waymark post (just past the farm building in the next field) directing you across the meadow and up the hill.

10. When you reach the top of the hill take the ride to your left which will lead you back down the corridor of land to Reynold Wood. At the end of the corridor turn left and continue all the way to the bottom of the bill.

11. When you reach the forked path at the bottom of the hill take the first waymarked path to your right.

12. When you come to a bridge cross over and take the path to your left. Follow the ride round past the pond and up the hill.

13. At the cross-roads take the ride on your left which will bend round to the right and bring you to the clearing you started at. Go through the gates to your left and take the path leading back to the car park.