Finding Jack in the Woods

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.      

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.

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.

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.

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.