Maulden Wood

Maulden Wood is a large ancient woodland on the greensand ridge near Maulden village in Bedfordshire, managed by the Greensand Trust and Forestry England. Together with the conifer plantations of Pennyfather's Hill to the south, it forms the Maulden Wood and Pennyfather's Hill Site of Special Scientific Interest (148.8 ha, notified 1986) — home to a wealth of wildlife from bluebells and purple emperor butterflies to wood ants, badgers, foxes and barn owls, with old woodbanks marking historic ownership boundaries.

The wood is open to the public all year round with free access. Parking is available at the Deadman's Hill layby on the A6 north of Clophill, and paths can be reached on foot from Maulden Church through Church Field and via the Greensand Ridge Walk. The warm sandy soils make for pleasant walking at any time of year, and a network of horse trails is accessible from local public bridleways. Popular with families for woodland walks, cycling and nature spotting.