Fuller's Earth Extraction- environmental impacts and succession.

Man's quarrying activities near to Woburn Sands,Bedfordshire provide lots of opportunities for practical investigations for:
Possible themes include human influences on the environment, succession and zonation, forestry management, conservation and/or conservation management, effects and management of tourist activities. As with the biodesk Dunstable Downs Case Study it is essential for you to visit the site to assess its utility for your circumstances.


Where is the site?
This is an area of mixed woodland on the Greensand Ridge close to Aspley Guise, Woburn and Woburn Sands. You have a relatively large area at your disposal some 324 hectares (800 acres) consisting of the areas known as Aspley Woods, Wavendon Woods, New Wavendon Heath etc. However for your purposes the areas all merge. You will need an OS Map or you can usually obtain footpath maps from the newsagents "Aspley News" in the Square, Aspley Guise. Alternatively you will find maps posted on the several information boards at access points to the area. The woodland and heathlands are undulating and the horizon is generally limited to a few miles- considerably less in many places.
Access and free car parking is available at several points. There is a layby plus some (unofficial) verge parking on the Newport Road (A5130)linking Woburn to Woburn Sands. You can also park with care in Woodside, Aspley Guise. In Bow Brickhill there is parking in the woods on the road to Woburn and also the official car park in Longslade Lane. Be security conscious with your car. Criminals know that cars in countryside car parks are usually left unattended for reasonably long periods.. Subject to a reasonable number wishing to go (at least ten), I may be able to arrange a guided walk geared at biologists. If interested send me an email stating the month you are interested in and I will let you know if anything is planned.

Who are the owners?
The woodland forms part of the Woburn Abbey Estate known as Bedford Estates. The owners are therefore the Tavistock family. This area has always been a commercially managed woodland.

Also within the area:
  1. An open cast Fuller's Earth quarry/mine operated by Steetley Woburn Bentonite Ltd(now part of a huge multi-national conglomerate). Steetley are well equipped to provide information to visitors and host many trips by neighbouring schools, colleges and universities. Packs are available from them on request.
  2. An international championship Golf Course with (at present) three championship courses. This hosts several large and prestigious events attracting large crowds. This is an important part of the Woburn Estate trading activities.
  3. Various farms- forming part of Bedford Estates agricultural activities.

However underlaying this picture are:
  1. Bedfordshire County Council and Milton Keynes Council- who have input into the voluntary access arrangements whereby Bedford Estates allow the public wide access to the woodlands and heaths. These bodies also play a part in the conservation management, footpath signposting etc.
  2. Local Parish and Town Councils who also maintain a high level of activity(eg in asisting with the vetting and maintenance of footpaths.
  3. Shanks McEwan Waste Disposal; this firm has several landfill sites nearby and provided money via the Landfill Tax Scheme towards the Environmental Management of the site.
  4. Local special interest groups, e.g. (a)The Greensand Trust, (b) Woburn Sands and District Society.

What is the area used for?
Apart from the farming, golfing quarrying, activities, the area is valuable for recreational uses including:

The current debate
So far you have been given the picture of a pleasant wooded area with considerable public access. Management seems to have ensured that no one group seriously affects the enjoyment of other groups.
However the area is also underlain by a rich seam of the highly prized mineral called Fullers Earth. This is of volcanic origin and once processed has a wide variety of industrial and scientific uses making it a rare and sought after national asset. The Fuller's Earth at Woburn Sands is said to be of the highest quality in Europe. It has been mined there since the 13th century.
There is currently an application to extend the quarry workings on a rolling basis, with restoration following extraction. This is not the first time the workings have been extended; a few years ago the company actually paid to realign the main A5130 in order to extract the Fuller's Earth beneath the old road. At the time there was considerable public opposition to this proposal, which was however authorised. There were fears about loss of habitat, reduced biodiversity, loss of amenity etc. You may wish to refer to this earlier debate when discussing the current one.

The realigned A5130. Wide and with landscaped, planted banks plus a footpath for pedestrians. The old road was narrower, with trees overhanging and little or no pavement.
There is great opportunity for studying succession in the area. This is due to the rolling nature of restoration. At any one time you can go to a plantation newly planted, one two years old, five years old and soon and compare the ground flora or understorey.
There are also discreet areas of broadleaved woodland and separately, coniferous. Lots of opportunity to compare ground flora or fauna in the litter layers beneath the different types (provided you standardise!).
In summary then, this is a diverse and changing environment with scope for a wide range of projects. As always, feel free to email me with your ideas.


Quarry to left. Recently restored and replanted land to right. Older restored woodland(previously quarried) in foreground and background.

Suggested contacts- This list is not exhaustive.
  1. Steetley Woburn Bentonite Ltd; Woburn Road,Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes MK17 8TU
  2. Mrs Helen Dwyer, Principal Planning Officer, Minerals and Waste, Bedfordshire County Council, County Hall,Bedford MK42 9AP
  3. Countryside Officer (for details of Rangers for this area); Bedfordshire County Council, addrses as above.
  4. Mr John Pope, Woburn Sands & District Society, 90 Mount Pleasant, Aspley Guise,Milton Keynes.
  5. Mr John Williams; Campaign to protect Woburn and District from Open Cast Mining, 32 Timber Lane, Woburn,Milton Keynes.
  6. Bedfordshire Wildlife Trust; Priory Park, Bedford.
  7. The Greensand Trust

You will also find a lot of material from Government Enquiries, and also in the local papers.

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Edition 1 Copyright David Funge January 2002 1