Salcey Forest facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Northamptonshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 159.6 hectares |
| Notification | 1984 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Salcey Forest is a beautiful old woodland in Northamptonshire, England. It is located near the village of Hartwell, between the towns of Northampton and Newport Pagnell. This forest is managed by the Forestry Commission, which works to protect its amazing plants and animals. They also use the forest to grow trees for wood products.
A special part of Salcey Forest, covering about 160 hectares, is called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a very important place for nature, protected by law because of its unique wildlife and habitats.
Contents
Exploring Salcey Forest
Salcey Forest is a great place to visit! It has many paths for walking and exploring. You can see lots of different animals and plants here.
The Tree Top Walk
In 2005, a special tree top walk was built in the forest. This walkway let visitors walk high up among the trees, about 15 meters (49 feet) above the ground. At the end of the walk, there was an even higher viewing platform, 18 meters (59 feet) up. From the top, you could even see the town of Northampton!
Sadly, the raised walkway was closed to the public in May 2018 for safety reasons. Even so, it was a very impressive project. It even won an award in 2006 for its environmental design.
Ancient Trees and History
Salcey Forest is a very old place. It used to be a royal hunting forest in medieval times, which means kings and queens would hunt there. You can still find reminders of its long history. There are miles of ancient woodland and very old trees.
Some of the most special trees are the 'druid' or veteran oaks. These oak trees are incredibly old, with some believed to be over 500 years old! They are rare and provide homes for many different kinds of wildlife.
Fun for Visitors
The forest has a cafe where you can get food and drinks. It's located near one of the main parking areas, which you have to pay for. However, most other parking areas in the forest are free. There's also a children's play area, perfect for younger visitors.
Salcey Forest is also a special place for book lovers! It's an official BookCrossing zone. This means there are bookshelves where you can leave books you've finished or pick up new ones to read, all for free.
The Elephant Pond
During the Second World War, something very unusual happened in Salcey Forest. Elephants from circuses were brought here to help cut down trees! They were very strong and useful. There's even a pond in the forest called The Elephant Pond. This is where the elephants would bathe and cool off after a long day of work.
For a short time, the forest even had its own railway station until 1908.
Parkrun
Since October 2019, Salcey Forest has been a host for parkrun. This is a free event that happens every Saturday morning at 9am. People can walk or run a 5-kilometer (about 3.1 miles) course. It's a great way to get active and enjoy the forest!
Forest Life: Plants and Animals
Salcey Forest is the biggest ancient woodland in Northamptonshire. The SSSI part of the forest has most of the very old oak trees.
Plants
The ground under the trees is full of different plants. You can see beautiful bluebells in spring. Other plants include false brome, pendulous sedge, and enchanter's nightshade.
Animals
The forest is home to many different animals. Lots of birds build their nests and raise their young here. It's also an important place for many types of moths, including some rare species.
Getting There
You can get to Salcey Forest by following a track from the village of Hartwell.
