During 2025 there will be ongoing improvement works happening in Rendlesham Forest, including maintenance work to the main car park, enhancing our cafe offer, and forestry operations. The forest remains open during this work, but diversions may be in place. Safety for visitors and staff is our top priority, so please respect any closures in place and follow signed diversions.
Help to improve access at Rendlesham Forest
We've successfully secured funding to make access improvements in Rendlesham Forest. Our aim is to help more people enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of spending time in nature, with changes that support accessibility and inclusion for all.
As part of the project, we're planning to:
- create a new easy-access trail of approximately 1km, with a smooth, wheelchair-friendly surface.
- introduce new inclusive play features, designed for a wide range of ages and abilities.
This will also form part of a longer-term plan to replace the current play equipment, much of which is now nearing the end of its life.
We'd love to hear from you
Your feedback will help shape the design and make sure the improvements reflect the needs of our community. Please share your thoughts in this short survey. Your input could help make Rendlesham Forest better for everyone.
Forestry England Camping at Rendlesham
We’re delighted to announce that Forestry England Camping at Rendlesham Forest opened 24 April 2025, and the new operator is accepting bookings on rendleshamcamping.co.uk. We can’t wait to see the campsite come back to life and become the starting point for many forest adventures and wonderful memories made.
The site will be open from 24 April to 31 December. You can also keep up to date with news and developments on the campsite on the Rendlesham Camping Facebook page.
Cafe facilities in the forest
Tintos Cafe will be available in the main car park most weekends and during school holidays, weather permitting. For menus and latest opening times, visit Tintos Cafe Instagram page.
Over the coming months we're installing a more permanent structure to enhance Rendlesham's cafe offer.
Forestry operations at Rendlesham
Rendlesham Forest is an active working woodland that produces sustainable timber. Our work ensures responsible forest management and contributes to reducing reliance on less sustainably managed forests worldwide.
Time period of work
February 2025 - January 2026
Temporary closures and trail diversions
Timber harvesting operations will require temporary closures and diversions. Please follow all on-site signs for safety, even on weekends. The table below will be regularly updated with the current status.
- Area 2 on the map linked below is currently closed
Please click here for an up to date map of thinning operations happening on site.
Last updated: 19 May 2025
| Facility | Status |
|---|---|
| Camping | Open |
| Cafe | Open weekends and holidays |
| Play area | Open |
| UFO Trail | Open |
| Tang cycle trail | Open |
| Fido cycle trail | Open |
| Easy Access trail | Open |
| Phoenix trail | Open |
| Main Car Park | Closed 26th, 27th and 30th June. |
| Horsebox car park | Open |
| Plane Spotters car park | Open |
| Butley Corner car park | Open |
| Orienteering course | Open |
Thinning out forests
When we plant a forest to produce timber, we often place trees close together so that they grow tall and straight with fewer branches. This produces stronger timber with fewer knots in the wood. Some trees will not grow as well as others, so we fell the smaller trees to create space and light for the others to grow better. This is called thinning.
The wood from the smaller trees that are thinned is used for things like fence posts, pallets, wood chips and fuel. The remaining trees will carry on growing and produce a good quality timber crop.
Contact the Rendlesham team
If you have any queries about the improvement works happening at Rendlesham, please email sandlingsranger@forestryengland.uk