This large ancient wood, regularly coppiced in past times, lies in the centre of the parish, and belonged to Colvilles Manor, whose lord was selling 15 acres of timber there for felling in 1339. In 1612 it covered 67 acres, but was later split in two by a strip of pasture – Great Colvilles (now called Lower Wood) and Little Colvilles (now called Great Covens).
Lower Wood is now owned and maintained by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, having been sold to them by Peter Mayfield. Recent years have seen much damage caused by ash die back which has necessitated the removal of many dying trees and replanting with other native species. Through the winter a volunteer work party continue the old tradition of coppicing.
Some memories
Maureen Garrod:
“Anthony Loates showed me my first nightingales nest at Coven Wood.”
Edna Mayfield camped with her Girl Guides in the Glade.
Duncan McKay, the current volunteer warden for the wood:
“On my first day as warden, I saw an old man with a stick. Peter Mayfield loved the wood and sold it to the Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust in 1985 at a nominal price because he wanted young people to have access.”
An oak tree was planted for the Mayfields’ son Simon after his motorbike accident.
