Buckler’s Forest

  • Free parking (2.3m height restriction)
  • Parking bays for the disabled
  • Bins
  • Benches and picnic tables
  • Surfaced paths
  • Former grounds of the Transport Research Laboratory
  • A little piece of road transport history
  • Great for wildlife
  • Recognised as a Local Wildlife Site by Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre in March 2024
  • Choice of routes, 1.3km, 2.4km & 3.6km
See route…

 

 

Where you’ll find it…

Find the free car park off Woodcote Green, Crowthorne, nearest postcode RG45 6LN. Grid reference SU 84373 64824. What3Words: noises.mercy.almost.

N.B. We’ve given the nearest postcode, but recommend using the links to look up the exact location. The centre of a postcode may be up to half a mile from your destination.

What you’ll find there…

Huge open space in what used to be the grounds of the Transport Research Lab. With its wide, surfaced tracks, it’s perfect for running, cycling or walks with the dog.

Information boards and a mini-museum tell you about the wildlife of the local area and the transport research that once took place here. Echos of the past have been pleasingly integrated, the huge skid pad and areas once used to test ‘innovative’ ideas such as mini-roundabouts and cycle lanes! These may now be nicely landscaped, but it’s lovely that the past is being celebrated.

Since it opened in December 2018, Buckler’s Forest has become very popular with locals. Being a nice big place, there’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy.

It’s proving great for wildlife, with rare Woodlark nesting, sightings of Crossbill and many notable finds by dragonfly and butterfly enthusiasts. The discovery of the Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly is a highlight, as well as great views of the magnificent Golden-ringed Dragonfly and also Lesser Emperor dragonfly and Small Red Damselfly. Silver-studded Blue butterflies are recorded here and, later in the summer, it’s alive with rare Grayling butterflies, thriving in flowery grassland areas, especially where there are plenty of sandy patches amongst the grasses. Other butterflies include the Common Blue and Brown Argus, and reptiles & amphibians include Grass Snake and Common Toad.

Read more from Bracknell Forest Council here.

Gallery…

Photo of a tree lined path, with autumn coloured leaves backlit by the sun
Buckler’s Forest, November 2024
Photo of a wildlife pond surrounded by tall pine trees
Buckler’s Forest, November 2024
Photo of a bare soil bank with a sign explaining what bee banks are. Tall pine trees behind
Bee banks, Buckler’s Forest, November 2024
A photo of a sign explaining that "You are now entering a sensitive conservation area". It explains that the Woodlark is a rare bird in the UK and that Bracknell Forest Council are manging the area for Woodlark to nest and breed,
Sign with information about the Woodlarks that breed at Buckler’s Forest, March 2024
Wintery photograph looking across Buckler's Forest on a cold January day. There's a pond in the foreground and tall pine trees in the distance.
Buckler’s Forest, January 2024
Wintery photograph of the banked test track at Buckler's Forest on a cold January day.
Buckler’s Forest, January 2024

Wintery photograph looking across Buckler's Forest on a cold January day. A sign warns of ducks crossing!
Buckler’s Forest, January 2024
Wintery photograph looking across Buckler's Forest on a cold January day. A pond in the foreground, the observation tower in the background.
Buckler’s Forest, January 2024
Photo of a large, tarmac car park. White lines clearly mark out parking spaces. A few cars are parked.
Newly surfaced car park, June 2023
Photo of an attractive pond surrounded by pine trees.
Buckler’s Forest, April 2023
Photo of a a pair of people walking along a concrete track flanked by gorse bushes in flower.
Buckler’s Forest, April 2023
Photo of a person reading about site history on a noticeboard.
Buckler’s Forest, April 2023

Photo of a two people cycling along a wide gravel track. Trees either side.
Buckler’s Forest, April 2023
Photo of an old tarmac track with cycle lane symbols. And an old road sign. Relicts of transport lab work.
Buckler’s Forest, April 2023
Photo of a shady path going through large conifer trees.
Buckler’s Forest, April 2023
Photo of a wide open landscape, gorse bushes in the foreground and pine tress and the historic tower in the distance.
Buckler’s Forest, April 2023
Photo of a pond with a shallow slope that leads into the water, suitable for dogs.
Buckler’s Forest, April 2023
Photo of a historic wooden tower. Tall and thin with an observation station at the top.
Buckler’s Forest, April 2023

Photo of a wide open landscape, gorse bushes in the foreground and buildings in the distance.
Buckler’s Forest, April 2023
Photo of a solid looking, sturdy picnic table with benches.
Buckler’s Forest, April 2023
Photo of an iridescent insect with clear, intricately veined wings.
Emerald Damselfly at Buckler’s Forest by Gillian Bamford, August 2022
Photo of a mottled butterfly sitting on a bright purple buddleia flower. The wings are closed but you can see part of the sandy-coloured upper wing and its black spot.
Grayling at Buckler’s Forest by Gillian Bamford, August 2022
Photo of a pretty blue butterfly sitting on a bright yellow flower
Common Blue at Buckler’s Forest by Gillian Bamford, July 2022
Photo of a brown mottled bird, a Woodlark, sitting on the edge of a plastic tree protector.
Rare Woodlark are nesting and visitors are asked to please keep to the paths and not allow dogs to roam into areas of short grass where they’re nesting March – August. Photo credit Steve Harley, taken at Buckler’s Forest, June 2022.

Photo of a banked concrete race track on a frosty morning
Echos of the past at Buckler’s Forest, January 2022
Photo of cyclists at Buckler's Forest
Buckler’s Forest, December 2018
Mini-museum at Buckler's Forest with archaeological samples
Mini-museum at Buckler’s Forest, December 2018
Mini-museum at Buckler's Forest
Mini-museum at Buckler’s Forest, December 2018
Photo of a new bench on a wooden platform beside a pond
Buckler’s Forest, December 2018
Photo of a green junction box that has been turned into an insect hotel
Buckler’s Forest, December 2018

Photo of a information boards
Buckler’s Forest, December 2018

 

 

This ‘Greenspace on your doorstep’ is managed by…

Bracknell Forest Council

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