Swinley Forest
Encyclopedia
Swinley Forest is a large expanse of English
Crown Estate
woodland mainly within the civil parish
es of Windlesham
in Surrey
and Winkfield
and Crowthorne
in Berkshire
.
, the forest stretches from Bracknell
, in the north, to Bagshot, in the south. It is owned and managed by the Crown Estate and comprises over 2600 acres (11 km²) of woodland across gently undulating hills. Although now mostly a modern plantation of Scots Pine
s, the area was once part of Windsor Forest. Swinley Forest includes Crowthorne Woods around Caesar's Camp
between the Nine Mile Ride
and Crowthorne
; Swinley Park between Forest Park and the B3017; Bagshot Heath just west of Bagshot; and Swinley Woods around Kings Ride between the B3017 and South Ascot
. Much of the woods cover what used to be moorland as indicated by the names of some of the hills, such as Broadmoor
, Owlsmoor
, Wishmoor, Gormoor, Whitmoor and Englemoor (now Englemere).
. It was at the centre of Swinley Walke, one of the sub-divisions of Windsor Forest.
In 2007, a "Go-Ape" facility was opened to the public.
In late July 2009 a scene was shot in Swinley Forest for the worldwide blockbuster Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1. The scene saw Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) being chased by Voldemort's bounty hunters - the Snatchers. The day before filming many members of the production team had planned a specific route for the actors to run through, as many special effects were in the scene and the materials used to help create these had to be set up prior to filming.
In May 2011 forest fires broke out throughout the forest, the cause is believed to be a mixture of the ongoing heat and arson. The fires affected only a small proportion of the woodland. Many of the pictures can be viewed via Google Images.
, with many off-road 'single-track' trails available as well as plenty of fire roads. Mountain biking is permitted with a permit, but walking is free. Swinley Woods was originally submitted as the proposed venue for the mountain biking event of the 2012 Summer Olympics
, however, the distance from the main Olympic Park was considered too great and the event is now take to place at Hadleigh Farm
near Hadleigh
, Essex
.
, on the northern edge of Crowthorne Woods, is The Look Out Discovery Centre, operated by Bracknell Forest
Borough Council. This is a hands-on science exhibition and nature discovery centre, which also acts as a visitor centre for the forest, providing maps, car parking and bike hire. Most of the self-guided walks and bike trails start and end at the centre.
hill fort
known as Caesar's Camp. It is the only one in East Berkshire. It has not been excavated but Iron Age coins have been found there. The name only dates from the 18th century.
(SSSI) and has protected areas for the birds that live there.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Crown Estate
Crown Estate
In the United Kingdom, the Crown Estate is a property portfolio owned by the Crown. Although still belonging to the monarch and inherent with the accession of the throne, it is no longer the private property of the reigning monarch and cannot be sold by him/her, nor do the revenues from it belong...
woodland mainly within the civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
es of Windlesham
Windlesham
Windlesham is a village in the Surrey Heath district of Surrey in South East England. It is also the name of the parish that covers Bagshot and Lightwater, in addition to Windlesham...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and Winkfield
Winkfield
Winkfield is a village and civil parish in the Bracknell Forest unitary authority of Berkshire, England.-Geography:According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 15,271...
and Crowthorne
Crowthorne
Crowthorne is also a suburb of Johannesburg, South AfricaCrowthorne is a village and civil parish in the Bracknell Forest district of south-eastern Berkshire. It has a population of 6,711...
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
.
Coverage
Situated to the south-west of Windsor Great ParkWindsor Great Park
Windsor Great Park is a large deer park of , to the south of the town of Windsor on the border of Berkshire and Surrey in England. The park was, for many centuries, the private hunting ground of Windsor Castle and dates primarily from the mid-13th century...
, the forest stretches from Bracknell
Bracknell
Bracknell is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It lies to the south-east of Reading, southwest of Windsor and west of central London...
, in the north, to Bagshot, in the south. It is owned and managed by the Crown Estate and comprises over 2600 acres (11 km²) of woodland across gently undulating hills. Although now mostly a modern plantation of Scots Pine
Scots Pine
Pinus sylvestris, commonly known as the Scots Pine, is a species of pine native to Europe and Asia, ranging from Scotland, Ireland and Portugal in the west, east to eastern Siberia, south to the Caucasus Mountains, and as far north as well inside the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia...
s, the area was once part of Windsor Forest. Swinley Forest includes Crowthorne Woods around Caesar's Camp
Caesar's Camp
Caesar's Camp is a name used for many Iron Age hill forts in England.These include:Bedfordshire* Caesar's Camp near SandyBerkshire* Caesar's Camp, Bracknell ForestLondon* Caesar's Camp on Wimbledon CommonSurrey* Caesar's Camp near Farnham...
between the Nine Mile Ride
Nine Mile Ride
Nine Mile Ride is a length of the B3430 road in the English county of Berkshire, running from the south of Bracknell to Finchampstead, near Wokingham.-Character:...
and Crowthorne
Crowthorne
Crowthorne is also a suburb of Johannesburg, South AfricaCrowthorne is a village and civil parish in the Bracknell Forest district of south-eastern Berkshire. It has a population of 6,711...
; Swinley Park between Forest Park and the B3017; Bagshot Heath just west of Bagshot; and Swinley Woods around Kings Ride between the B3017 and South Ascot
South Ascot
South Ascot is a village just south of and down the hill from the small town of Ascot in the English county of Berkshire. It is bounded on the west by the Kingsride area of Swinley Woods, on the north by the Reading to Waterloo railway line and merges with Sunninghill to the east.- Local government...
. Much of the woods cover what used to be moorland as indicated by the names of some of the hills, such as Broadmoor
Broadmoor Hospital
Broadmoor Hospital is a high-security psychiatric hospital at Crowthorne in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It is the best known of the three high-security psychiatric hospitals in England, the other two being Ashworth and Rampton...
, Owlsmoor
Owlsmoor
Owlsmoor is a suburb of Sandhurst in Berkshire, England, and part of the civil parish of Sandhurst.The settlement lies near to the A3095 road, and is located approximately north-east of Sandhurst town centre....
, Wishmoor, Gormoor, Whitmoor and Englemoor (now Englemere).
History
Swinley Park once surrounded Swinley Lodge where the King kept the Royal Staghounds in Georgian timesGeorgian era
The Georgian era is a period of British history which takes its name from, and is normally defined as spanning the reigns of, the first four Hanoverian kings of Great Britain : George I, George II, George III and George IV...
. It was at the centre of Swinley Walke, one of the sub-divisions of Windsor Forest.
In 2007, a "Go-Ape" facility was opened to the public.
In late July 2009 a scene was shot in Swinley Forest for the worldwide blockbuster Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1. The scene saw Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) being chased by Voldemort's bounty hunters - the Snatchers. The day before filming many members of the production team had planned a specific route for the actors to run through, as many special effects were in the scene and the materials used to help create these had to be set up prior to filming.
In May 2011 forest fires broke out throughout the forest, the cause is believed to be a mixture of the ongoing heat and arson. The fires affected only a small proportion of the woodland. Many of the pictures can be viewed via Google Images.
Mountain biking
The woods provide some of the best mountain biking in South-East EnglandSouth East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
, with many off-road 'single-track' trails available as well as plenty of fire roads. Mountain biking is permitted with a permit, but walking is free. Swinley Woods was originally submitted as the proposed venue for the mountain biking event of the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
, however, the distance from the main Olympic Park was considered too great and the event is now take to place at Hadleigh Farm
Hadleigh Farm
Hadleigh Farm is the venue for the mountain biking competition in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and 2012 Paralympic Games and is located at Hadleigh within the borough of Castle Point, near Southend in the county of Essex .-Site:...
near Hadleigh
Hadleigh, Essex
Hadleigh is a town in southeast Essex, England, on the A13 between Benfleet and Leigh-on-Sea with a population of about 18,300.-History:Hadleigh is known for its castle, and the country park that surrounds it. The castle has been a romantic ruin for a few hundred years, but parts of two towers are...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
.
Visitor centre
At Gormoor on the Nine Mile RideNine Mile Ride
Nine Mile Ride is a length of the B3430 road in the English county of Berkshire, running from the south of Bracknell to Finchampstead, near Wokingham.-Character:...
, on the northern edge of Crowthorne Woods, is The Look Out Discovery Centre, operated by Bracknell Forest
Bracknell Forest
Bracknell Forest is a unitary authority and borough in Berkshire in southern England. It covers the towns of Bracknell, North Ascot, Sandhurst, Crowthorne and surrounding villages and hamlets.-History:...
Borough Council. This is a hands-on science exhibition and nature discovery centre, which also acts as a visitor centre for the forest, providing maps, car parking and bike hire. Most of the self-guided walks and bike trails start and end at the centre.
Caesar's Camp
Adjoining the Look Out is an Iron AgeBritish Iron Age
The British Iron Age is a conventional name used in the archaeology of Great Britain, referring to the prehistoric and protohistoric phases of the Iron-Age culture of the main island and the smaller islands, typically excluding prehistoric Ireland, and which had an independent Iron Age culture of...
hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
known as Caesar's Camp. It is the only one in East Berkshire. It has not been excavated but Iron Age coins have been found there. The name only dates from the 18th century.
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Swinley Park and its Brick Pits is a Site of Special Scientific InterestSite of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
(SSSI) and has protected areas for the birds that live there.