Forest Running: Embracing the Outdoors at Bedgebury
At Nice Work, we’re proud to have worked alongside Forestry England and the fantastic team at Bedgebury for many years, delivering unforgettable race experiences in this stunning forest setting. Today, we’re excited to hand over to Becky, Bedgebury’s passionate Active Forest Co-ordinator, to share details of a special event to celebrate their 100th anniversary.
"At Forestry England, we are passionate about running! In forests all over the country, we
offer hundreds of miles of waymarked running trails, friendly running groups, parkruns, and a wide variety of live and virtual running events to take your pick from. We support all runners on their journey, whether they are just starting out, looking to improve, or seeking the thrill of an ultra-marathon.
At Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest in Kent, we’ve had the privilege of collaborating with our local race management team, Nice Work, for nearly 10 years. During this time, we have witnessed thousands of runners (and their dogs!) cross the finish line. It has been a joy to cheer on every runner as they complete their races, each with their unique stories. We are already excited for our annual Nice Work Half Marathon, 10K, and Junior 2K events in October!
For those who can’t wait until October or if Bedgebury isn’t in your neck of the woods, click the link below to find a forest near you. If you’re local to Bedgebury, we have a special event planned for our runners to celebrate our 100th birthday! On Saturday 28 June, we will host a
parkrun takeover, featuring the very first parkrun route ever used at Bedgebury. This special
route takes you through the National Pinetum, showcasing its' internationally significant conifer collection, as well as streams, lakes, and towering giant redwoods. Join us afterward for a cup of tea and a slice of cake while learning about the vital conservation work taking place here.
Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our runners. By running in our forests, you are also helping us care for trees and wildlife as all income raised from vehicle admission and a percentage of race entry fees supports the ongoing care of our forests for now and for future generations to enjoy.
Lastly, but by no means least – thank you to the Nice Work team for working with us to create these experiences, we look forward to many more years delivering running events with you!
For more information, please check out our website: Bedgebury National Pinetum and
To find out more about running in the forests, visit: Running | Forestry England
We look forward to seeing you in the forest soon!"
Guest blog by Becky Fletcher, Active Forest Co-ordinator at Bedgebury
Thank you so much to Becky for this wonderful blog and for all the energy, dedication, and enthusiasm you bring to the running community at Bedgebury. The Nice Work team truly loves working with you and the Forestry England team, it’s been a pleasure to be part of so many incredible events together over the past few years. We’re especially excited about this year’s celebrations and of course, we can’t wait to welcome everyone back for the Bedgebury Forest Half Marathon & 10K on Sunday 19th October 2025, click here to find out more. We can't wait to create many more miles and memories running through the breathtaking forests!