About Friends of Harrold-Odell Country Park

Who are the Friends of Harrold-Odell Country Park?

We are people who enjoy outdoor recreation, wildlife conservation, sharing skills, learning new ones, being healthy, and raising public awareness of countryside activities.

We help to foster and promote all the activities of the Park by working in partnership with Bedford Borough Council, Ivel and Ouse Countryside Project, Harrold and Odell Parish Councils.

Membership of the Friends Group is open to anyone, any group or organisation who complete a membership application form and wish to be associated with the Park on an informal basis.

Volunteers are vital to the management of the Park.

Conservation Days

Please check the events page to see when they are on.

Join Friends

Do you have time to spare to help us with

  • Conservation work
  • Wardening
  • Events

Come and join our group of volunteers and help with practical work such as habitat management, tree planting and hedge work; assist with events and guided walks; record wildlife; or become a voluntary warden.

Why join us?

  • Help improve the country park
  • Enjoy healthy outdoor exercise
  • Develop new skills and learn about local history
  • Meet like minded people
  • It's free!

We provide:

  • Tools
  • Hot drinks and biscuits
  • Insurance
  • And a good time!!

There is no charge. Please wear old, warm, outdoor clothes, sturdy footwear and bring a packed lunch. Working with us is a great opportunity to learn new skills or keep old ones alive! Please contact us for further details.

Special Message From Rosemary Barrett

Rosemary has been our Secretary since the Friends’ began and now she has stepped down and handed the reins over to David Taylor. Rosemary was recently given thank you cards and a leaving present from the Friends’ - she wanted to send this thank you:-

“Thank you all so much for the lovely flowers and the garden gift vouchers on my ‘retirement’, it was a lovely surprise. I shall still be around the Park doing patrols and helping with events and visits as appropriate. It has been a pleasure to work with you all and to see the Friends’ Group develop over the past 4 years, from a small group to a much bigger one with a greater diversity of members helping not only with conservation but also with admin, events, art and craft and expanding to include members who now come as and when they can as Park visitors. Everyone adds something to the wonderful Park that we have. The Friends’ income has grown, principally through the car park donations, but lots of other donations and ways of generating income as well. We have been the recipient of grants from Awards for All, the Woodland Trust and Grantscape (through the Greensand Ridge Trust). I am sure the Group will continue to grow in all sorts of ways in the future. I am delighted to be handing over to David Taylor who I am sure will do a wonderful job. See you in the Park”.

We shall all miss Rosemary, but the great thing is she will still be around the Park to talk to. Thank you to David who has very kindly stepped into the role of Secretary - look out for lots of new ideas in the future!