Why a Forestry England Membership is the Best Family Investment You’ll Make This Year
If you’ve got children and love to get outdoors, then a Forestry England membership is basically your golden ticket to some of the best forests in the country. We’ve had ours for a while now, and honestly, I don’t know why we didn’t do it sooner. It’s the pass that keeps on giving – parking covered, trails for all abilities, picnic spots galore, and enough activities to wear the children out so you can actually drink a hot cup of tea in peace when you get home.
Here’s why we think it’s one of the best family investments you’ll make this year.
1. Free Parking at Forestry England Sites
Let’s be honest – car park charges add up faster than snack requests. At around £2–£12 a visit, it doesn’t take long before you’ve spent more on parking than you have on actual adventures. With the pass, parking at all Forestry England sites is included, so you can relax about the ticket machine and just get on with your day.
(Tip: We’ve used ours at Cannock Chase, Haughmond Hill and Delamere so far.)
2. Walks, Trails, and Big Open Spaces for Every Age
Whether your little ones are still toddling along on wobbly legs, or you’ve got teens who think they’re on “Survivor,” there’s something for everyone. Most sites have a choice of easy, moderate, and more challenging trails. We’ve done short buggy-friendly Gruffalo filled loops as well as longer treks on some quieter trails.
And yes — there’s always somewhere to climb, balance, swing or get gloriously muddy.
3. Family Biking Made Easy
Forestry England forests are brilliant for biking. You’ll find family-friendly cycle routes, pump tracks, and in some places (like Cannock Chase), proper mountain bike trails for the braver souls in your family. Some sites even have bike hire and cycle shops you can grab everything you need before you head out.
Oh, and the best bit? You don’t need to pay for extra trail access — it’s all included.
(If you’re new to family biking, check out my post on How to Choose the Best Kids’ Mountain Bike (Without Breaking the Bank).
4. Play Areas and Go Ape Adventures
From wooden play trails to adventure playgrounds, the children will find plenty to keep themselves entertained before, after, or instead of a walk. At some sites, you can even book extras like Go Ape tree-top adventures (we tried the Adventure Plus course at Cannock Chase – read about it here).
5. Great Value for Money
The pass is currently around £94 per year (as of September 2025 – check Forestry England’s website for the latest price). If you go once a month to any site where parking is £8 or more, you’ve already saved money compared to paying for parking each time! We go far more often than that, so for us, it’s an absolute no-brainer. If you have a favourite Forest you frequent, you can also grab a local membership for that one site. We like to switch between the sites and visit different areas, but if, for example, we lived by Haughmond Hill and went every weekend, we could get a membership at that site for £38 per year. (Other sites prices may vary, please visit their website.)
6. Supporting the Forests
It’s not just about saving money – your membership also helps to care for the woodlands. Forestry England manages 1,500 forests across the country, keeping trails safe, supporting wildlife, and planting trees for the future. So while you’re out enjoying your day, you’re also doing your bit for the environment. And in supporting the forests you are also helping all the wild animals. We’ve had picnics with squirrels, spotted mice in the undergrowth and our eldest even once spotted a deer on a bike trail!
7. Spontaneous Days Out (Without the Guilt)
There’s something so nice about being able to say “let’s just pop to the forest” without worrying about how much it’ll cost you in parking. It makes it easier to grab a couple of bikes, pack a picnic, and head out for a couple of hours – no big planning, no big spend. It really is the ultimate in a cheap family day outdoors!
Final Thoughts
If you’re a family that loves the outdoors, the Forestry England pass pays for itself quickly. Ours has given us countless adventures, from beautiful walks to daring biking trails, and plenty of picnics in between (and we’ve only had it 4 months!). We’ve especially loved the value since we started visiting Cannock Chase on a regular basis, but we’ve also loved that it’s inspired us to visit other forests that we might not have done before we bought it!
So if you’re on the fence – go for it. Your family (and your wallet) will thank you!
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I had a look at the membership a couple of months ago but for us it is not worth it yet as we only have one forest close by and we don’t go enough.
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12 months ago we were in the same boat. We were only walking then, and with so many other wonderful paces to walk (with free or no parking!) it didn’t make sense to us, and we don’t have anywhere particularly close to us either. It’s perhaps only best for those walkers who prefer set, family friendly walks with toilets and cafes. Since we’ve started mountain biking though it’s been the best investment, as there is nowhere near us to bike for free so we end up having to go to special places with parking charges 😭.
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