SP9949 : John Bunyan Trail by The Thorns
taken 7 years ago, near to Box End, Bedford, England
The Thorns is a 40ha site to the south-west of Bromham. It consists of a small area of woodland (part of Hanger Wood SSSI), a field to the east which is being allowed to regenerate to scrub/woodland having last been ploughed 4-5 years ago, and a large arable field (newly sown for winter wheat).
The arable field has 2m grass margins, mature and newly planted hedges, and, along its south-east edge, three small plots of arable weeds, pollen and nectar mix and songbird mix, options selected as part of an Entry Level Environmental Stewardship agreement.
The Trail was created by the Bedfordshire Group to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and is dedicated to the memory of John Bunyan, the Puritan Evangelist and author of the book 'Pilgrim's Progress'. The 77 mile long route passes through a number of attractive villages and scenic countryside, taking in many places of historic interest connected with Bunyan. There are links with the Greensand Ridge Walk, Icknield Way Path and North Bedfordshire Heritage Trail. The waymarked Clay Way (11½ miles, map online) which follows the West Bedfordshire Clay Ridge is partly coincident with the Trail at Cranfield.