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| photo by Lynette Hill |
Linford Wood is the place I escape to at lunchtime for a
walk and a bit of fresh air. My sandwiches always taste better beside the small
pond at the base of a lichen-covered old oak, twisted by wind and time. Footprints in the pond’s muddy bank
tell me that the local muntjac deer, foxes and other wildlife visit as well.
But I don't come here just to commune with Mother
Nature. I have an opportunity to enjoy locally created artwork as well. If I
follow that path over there I’ll find myself in the company of tiny men in top
hats, great baboon heads, howling trolls and the occasional wooden owl, badger
or crocodile. Rupert Bear stands at attention in the side of the tree stump
that provides the raw material for his creation. He marks the beginning (or
end, depending on how you go) of the art trail.
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| Rupert Bear - photo by Lynette Hill |
The creatures are sculpted out of stumps and
fallen branches by an artist known only as Jack.
Those who walk through the wood regularly often see him at work. The Milton Keynes Parks Trust, which owns the wood, gave the sculptor permission to begin
his work in 1990. He’s been busy ever since. His creations tend to be off in
the bushes, tucked away for the unwary to stumble upon. It helps to have an
adventurous child or nosy dog to follow – someone inclined to dart off the main
path to find what’s hidden just over there in the underbrush.
New pieces with the light tan of fresh-carved wood
do stand out from the greens and browns of the main forest. But that only lasts
for a little while. Sun and rain soon return Jack’s
creations to the dark brown of any weathered stump. Grass, brambles, moss and
fungi grow up again with no respect at all for the artist's efforts.
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| photo by Lynette Hill |
Milton Keynes is one of Britain’s newer towns, founded in
1967 to provide homes for London's burgeoning post-war generation. The Milton Keynes Parks Trust was created to protect and maintain this remnant of 5,000-year-old forest and other natural areas within the town limits. Linford Wood is listed in the Domesday Book and the trust's website notes
that the park was first enclosed in 1264 by Baron Von Pippard, owner of the
Linford Wood Manor estate. It was known for its wildlife even then. The first
complaint of poaching came in 1283.
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| photo by Lynette Hill |
Today, wood-chip covered horse trails cut through
the ancient wood. Paved walking paths make it accessible for wheelchairs and
buggies. In season, a line of trees along the path off Sunrise Drive provide
tart cooking apples which are free to anyone who enjoys foraging. You will find blackberries and plenty of
mushrooms here as well.
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| photo by Lynette Hill |
If you choose to drive to Linford Wood, you can use the large
communications tower on Saxon Street between Dansteed Way and Monks Way as a handy landmark. You
will find free parking next to a British Petroleum garage. Follow the path from
that car park into the wood. The picnic area will be up the path to your left
and the entrance to the art trail up the path on your right.
Hourly buses stop nearby on Saxon Street, Monks
Way, Dansteed Way and Marlborough Street. The park is open all hours.
Click here to find a map of the area.
Click here to find a map of the area.
