Families can enjoy free activities like forest bathing and stargazing in South Marston’s Nightingale Wood!
You can try “forest bathing.” Download free activity sheets from Forestry England and stargaze at night. A free beginner’s guide makes it fun, and all ages can enjoy it.
The BBC Sky at Night Magazine helped write the guide. It teaches about constellations. Experience the forest uniquely after dark; walking trails are marked clearly.
Three walking trails are available. You can also make your own route or use the forest roads to explore. Picnic benches sit in the main car park. Pack a lunch to eat there.
Winter is great for discovering animals. Look for animal tracks in the forest; they show where foxes, badgers, and deer went.
Hedgehogs, dormice, and bats hibernate in winter. Learn about them from their signs. Download and print a game of Tree Trumps. Compete in categories like height, timber value, and climbability.
Tree Trumps teaches about trees and helps you discover different tree species. Visit forestryengland.uk for details.
Forestry England manages many woods. They want forests resilient to climate change and plan to create wild areas by 2026. They will also increase visitor diversity and plant new woodlands.
Forestry England is part of the Forestry Commission. They are England’s largest land manager. In 2023/24, they had over 285 million visits and manage 1,500 woods.
Nightingale Wood opens daily, from 8 AM to 5 PM. Parking is free for all visitors.