See this wedding venue The Woods at Oakley nestled in Dinton

The Woods at Oakley is a “beautiful” wedding venue, nestled off the beaten track in Dinton, offering couples the opportunity to spend their special day at one with nature.

The venue contains 12 acres of private woodland with scenic photo opportunities, amongst animals and birds of prey that live within the woods.

The seating area for guests (Image: Newsquest) The site was once a fly tipping area, with trees suffering from Ash Dieback, but owners Lindsay and Charlie Woodford, who “fell in love” with the woods, have turned it into a “magical” venue which supports the replanting of dying trees and restoration of the woodlands to its former glory.

Venue co-ordinator Rachel Richardson began working at The Woods after she got married there in the summer, which she took on alongside her work as a musical theatre performer and singing teacher.

Rachel said: “I didn’t see many venues, this was the second wedding venue we saw.

“What they’ve done with the space – the space you get married in in particular - is so beautiful. We were sold very quickly on the concept. It is really special; it’s really magic.

“Meeting Lindsay and Charlie, we realised they are wonderful people. They’re not just looking to make money, they’re just selfless, eco-warriors.”

Every married couple has a tree planted on the site in their name to contribute to the regrowth of trees, something that the owners do to continue its preservation.

The views surrounding the woodlands (Image: Newsquest) Rachel continued: “I had this idea in my head of what our wedding could be and it was even better than I thought it ever could be. It was an amazing day, it was beautiful. We were lucky with the weather but it’s a special, special place to get married.”

The venue first opened in 2023, and has now concluded its second season which saw the number of weddings held double since its first year.

It continues to undergo developments, and as a former RAF base, Nissen huts on the site are now being converted so they can be used by guests. So far, one hut has been made into bride and groom accommodation – also an AirBnB - and another is an office space.

The Woods at Oakley team offer a number of packages to suit different budgets and requirements, which can be viewed on their brochure here.

Rachel is also offering services as a events planner and manager to help people organise their big day.

Rachel Richardson (Image: Newsquest) She said: “Because I got married here and now I work here, I’m thinking that I can really give some good insight to the woods and help them out as best I can. I just want to be there for our couples if they need somebody to help, basically.

“I’ve loved seeing the weddings so far that haven’t been mine and I can’t wait to see the weddings next year.”

Weddings can be held at The Woods up to a capacity of 150 people. There is still some availability for bookings in 2025, for more information, visit the website.