Welcome to the Marston Thrift Trail

Discover the ancient woodlands that once covered the Marston Vale...

The Domesday Book of 1086 records woodland in Marston. Marston Thrift was then, however, only part of a much larger area of woodland, probably a continuous swathe along the ridge which included Wootton Wood, the south eastern slopes of Cranfield, Holcot wood and Salford Wood.

Over the next 250 years increasing population and the demand for more agricultural land brought continuous clearance. The single tract became fragmented and the woods we know today took shape. The Marston Thrift was managed by coppicing the trees and shrubs - cutting them off at or near ground level and allowing them to grow until they were the size that was needed.

A section of the woodland would be cut each year to provide a continuous and substantial supply of materials. This form of management only died out in the last 50 years as a result of availability of cheap fuel and advances in building techniques. The Thrift is now controlled by the County Council's planning department, who manage the woodland in a sympathetic way as a Local Nature Reserve & SSSI.

Marston Thrift is in the west of the forest and covers 56 hectares on the east slope of the Clay Ridge. Our main aims are to put back hedgerows and to link existing woodlands.

Directions: Follow the signposts for Wood End from the A421, & continue to the end of the road for the car park. Public access is from either the car park at Wood End, or along the Thrift Way from Cranfield.