The Working Woodlands Centre
maulden wood in spring

Introduction:
The Working Woodlands Centre (WWC) concept has been around for some years, having been identified in the 2005 ‘Jobs in Ancient Woodlands’ study as an important part of the solution to bringing under-managed and under-utilised woodlands back into positive management. Traditional management practices such as coppicing not only provide valuable timber products, but also increase the biodiversity of our woodlands, benefitting birds, flowering plants and invertebrates in particular.

Aim of the WWC
The WWC is one project that consists of two linked elements:
Provide workshop space for wood related enterprises;
Create new visitor facilities at Maulden Wood, a popular attraction, acting as a hub for access and information.

It is hoped that this approach will both improve the visitor experience at Maulden Wood and help to stimulate the rural economy associated with woodlands and wood products, creating and sustaining local jobs and acting as an exemplar in positive woodland management and carbon reduction.

What we plan to do
- Construct new multi-functional visitor facilities at Maulden Wood, including interpretation, cafe, shop, education and community facilities;
- Turn existing Forestry Commission sheds into workshop ‘incubator’ units for wood and woodland-related businesses, helping them get started and develop markets and supply chains through strong links with the visitor facilities;
- Stimulate sustainable woodland management across Bedfordshire (and beyond), for the benefit of biodiversity, access and the rural economy;
- Act as an exemplar ‘hub’ for carbon reduction and renewable energy use at both an individual and community level;
- Act as a focal point for access, linking with routes into Maulden Wood and providing information helping visitors to maximise the benefits from access to the site without creating damaging this fantastic resource;
- Provide opportunities for a diverse range of communities to engage in a woodland environment, take part in its management and learn new skills.
- Create an ‘access for all’ route within Maulden Wood, with an interpretive trail, to encourage exploration and learning;
- Create an office and volunteer base for the Greensand Trust;
- Enhance the appearance of the Deadman’s Hill Lay-by, and reducing anti-social behaviour.

Dead man’s Hill lay-by 2008

Location:
The Deadman’s Hill Lay-by is situated 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, which attracts 125,000 day visits per annum (Forestry Commission figures).

Design and Layout
The main Working Woodlands Centre will be situated in the lay-by, with the workshops situated a short distance away to the north-west end of the wood. The layout will take advantage of the wooded nature of the lay-by, creating an attractive setting for the Centre amongst trees and close to the main access into Maulden Wood. Improvements to the appearance of the lay-by, along with creation of staffed facilities, will provide a more welcoming experience for the visitor and help reduce existing problems of litter, car crime and other anti-social behaviour.

PLANS
PDF SITE A SURVEY
SITE A ELEVATION
SITE A PLANS
SITE B ELEVATION

The main criteria for the design were:
Appropriateness – the design must be in keeping with the woodland surroundings, using materials that blend in and look attractive
Welcoming – the visitor centre element must be friendly and welcoming to all potential users
Robust and secure – the Deadman’s Hill lay-by has its problems, and the WWC must help to reduce them.
Sustainable – the facilities must incorporate renewable energy technologies and be highly energy efficient. An ideal would be for it to be powered by locally sourced wood.
Multi-functional – the facilities must suit a range of uses and users. These will include walkers, dog walkers, cyclists, horse riders, passing drivers (including lorries), educational groups, community groups.
Financially sustainable – the visitor centre will need to incorporate a cafe and retail shop to generate income that can then be re-invested into the Centre and site. The retail shop will be particularly important as it will provide the link with the ‘working’ side of the project – there will be locally produced wood products on sale, and opportunities for demonstrations by wood turners, carvers, furniture makers and other rural craftspeople.

Significant work has already been carried out to identify potential environmental and ecological impacts, to ensure that the WWC can be constructed with minimal disturbance and impact. Timing of construction is a very important consideration.

The Project will also help improve safety within the lay-by, with a one-way system, appropriate signage and furniture, ensuring that users feel safe and welcome.

Costs and Funding
The estimated capital costs of the visitor facilities and workshops are in the region of £900,000. In December 2008 EEDA’s Investing in Communities Fund awarded £600,000 towards this target. An expression of interest has also been submitted to the Greensand Ridge RDPE fund. The Rees Jeffries Road Fund, a charitable trust, is contributing £10,000. The Greensand Trust, Forestry Commission and Bedfordshire County Council are all contributing significant match funding / in-kind contributions. The Working Woodland Centre is to be situated on land owned by Bedfordshire County Council which will be leased to the Project as an in-kind contribution by the Council. A similar contribution is being made by the Forestry Commission for the land on which the Workshops will be situated.

Next Steps and Timescales for Delivery
Nicolas Tye Architects, a local practice, have been appointed to the project, and a planning application has been submitted in March 2009. If the application is approved, construction will begin in the autumn of 2009, with the Centre opening sometime in 2010.

Getting involved
If you would like to get involved in the development of the WWC then please do get in touch. We are particularly keen to hear from users, local communities and existing or potential wood-related businesses. We plan on holding an ‘open evening’ at a local village hall in April, where people can drop in and meet Greensand Trust staff and the Architect, and discuss the project

If you would like more information on this or any other project the Trust is involved with please contact:

Gill Welham/Jon Balaam
The Greensand Trust
The Forest Office
Maulden Wood
Haynes West End
Bedfordshire
MK43 3QT
01234 743666