Rook's Nest Wood nature park proposals

We’re seeking residents’ views on proposals to expand and enhance Rook’s Nest Wood nature park.

The plans aim to create a park which is bigger, more accessible for users and more connected with surrounding countryside.

Rook’s Nest Wood, which borders Arborfield, Barkham and Finchampstead parishes, would more than double in size. The current 18-hectare site would grow to more than 50 hectares, or the size of 75 football pitches.

Proposals include:

• 4.5km of new footpaths
• New, 2m-wide limestone surfaced footpaths throughout, totalling 3.3km, which will connect to the 2.5km of existing footpaths and enable visitors to complete a longer circular walk
• New, 400m-long, 3m-wide greenway / cycleway linking the existing California Country Park greenway to Edney’s Hill, via the proposed Barkham Solar Farm greenway. We eventually hope to take this greenway all the way to Wokingham Town centre
• Approximately 800m of new mown grass, unsurfaced footpaths
• New boundary fencing where required, to ensure it’s safe for dogs to be walked off lead
• Habitat enhancements, including 11 hectares of new woodland, 14 hectares of new species-rich wildflower grassland and six new wildlife ponds
• Expanding existing car park with 33 additional spaces

We want to invite feedback from local residents before proposals are finalised and a planning application is made.

If plans go ahead, all work will be funded by developer contributions. Landscaping work at the park would be set to start in spring / summer 2027 and completed by Christmas 2027.