Shenley Wood and Shenley Toot

Shenley Wood and Shenley Toot

Shenley Wood is a beautiful wooded and wildflower area, excellent for picnics with facilities such as seating, tables, and benches. Nearby Shenley Toot is an Anglo-Saxon scheduled ancient monument.

Shenley Wood was first recorded in the Domesday survey of 1086, and Saxon and Roman remains have also been found there.

The parish of Shenley includes Shenley Dens, Shenley Hill, Grange Farm, Crownhill, Oakhill/Woodhill, Shenley Wood (including Medbourne), Shenley Church End and Oxley Park.

The area is managed by The Parks Trust, and as well as picnicking facilities, there are also several ponds and wildlife habitat zones which are a haven for wildlife. The Parks Trust has put together information and a suggested walk in this PDF.

Across the V3 Fulmer Street from the wood is Shenley Toot, a look-out hill, which is thought to be Anglo-Saxon. In 1239 AD it was a moated motte and bailey castle, home to the family of the Earl of Chester, one of the most powerful families in the county. The earthworks that can be seen today are probably the remains of an 18th Century manor’s gardens which were also built on the site.

Wildlife

The wood is a fantastic place to see wildlife. In the spring and early summer the wood is full of colourful flowers. In the autumn you can find an amazing array of fungi on the woodland floor. You may also be lucky enough to see wild animals such as fox, muntjac deer or even badger.

Sheep & Cattle Grazing at the Toot

Depending on when you visit, you may see sheep or cattle grazing the area. Livestock grazing has taken place at The Toot for many years and is the most efficient way of maintaining the grassland as well as encouraging the development of wildflower species. The Parks Trust maintains the area and does not use conventional mowers to ensure this spectacular habitat remains intact for the pollinators and other insects and birds which it attracts.

Car parking

  • If visiting the wood, the nearest car park is off Merlewood Drive, to the east of the V2 Tattenhoe Street.
  • If visiting the Toot, car parking is down Aldwycks Close, off Vache Lane and the V3 Fulmer Street. A footpath from here can be followed into the Toot.

Toilets

  • There are no public toilets in the park.

Disabled access

There is a hard surface path around the edge of Shenley Wood and a short circular hard-surfaced path within it. These provide good access for wheelchairs and buggies although some may find the slope up the northern side of the wood steep. The interior tarmac path also has textured paving at each seat to assist the partially sighted visitor. The rest of the paths in the wood are soft surfaces, generally bark chip or grass. These should be moderately accessible for wheelchairs in dry weather.

Shenley Toot is not accessible to wheelchair users. The site can be viewed from public paths going around the site, albeit with some gradients.

Westbury Arts Centre

A short walk or cycle ride from Shenley Wood is Westbury Arts Centre.