Wildlife at High Lodge Forest Centre

 

FOREST CENTRE - The building which houses the shop and restaurant is in the style of a traditional Suffolk barn. SPRING and SUMMER OPENING TIMES High Lodge Shop and Restaurant are open from 9am - 5pm every day. WINTER OPENING TIMES Opening hours vary due to seasonal conditions. Please telephone for details.

DISABLED FACILITIES - There is parking for the disabled and disabled toilets available. Mobility Cycles have been funded by The Friends of Thetford Forest Park and are available to hire from BikeArt. For details/pictures access the Friends Website link, select "Our Achievements" then "Mobility Cycles".

WALKING - There are 4 walks the Orange route (1mile), blue route (1mile), yellow route (3miles) and the easy access route that follows the sculpture trail.A guide map showing 26 trails around the forest is available for £1 from High Lodge Forest Centre or from the Forest Office at Santon Downham (Office hours only).

CYCLING - 4 cycling routes, the green family route, blue route and the more challenging red and black routes. Cycle Hire is available on 01842 810090. A CYCLE MAP is available for £1 from High Lodge Forest Centre or from the Forest District Office at Santon Downham (Office hours only). The map can also be printed from the Cycle Route pages of this web site, see below.

An access charge is made on all vehicle entering High Lodge. The charge varies according to the season and the length of time you remain on site. Please access the new High Lodge pages via Related Pages to the right for more information. ANNUAL SEASON TICKETS ARE AVAIABLE.

EDUCATION - Forest Experience, Mini Beast Hunts, Woodland Habitats, Squirrel Scamper, Shelter Building, Team Building, Forest Tours .... just a few of the wide range of educational activities on offer. Guided and self guided days on offer, tailored to your requirements. Access the informatiion via the new High Lodge pages to the right and click on Education and Learning or telephone the Recreation Department on 01842 816 031 for more details.

WILDLIFE - The area is rich in wildlife. A small hide at the end of the orange walk offers the opportune visitor a chance to glimpse one of the four types of deer that live in the forest - Muntjac, Roe, Fallow and Red. Other wildlife haunts include a bat hibernaculum adjacent to the Centre - common and unusual bat species have been recorded here including Pipistrelle and Barbastelle and the small ponds scattered around the site, which encourage newts and toads. It is also a haven for butterflies and birdlife. Look out for the woodpeckers, crossbills, chaffinches and if you are lucky in the summer months at dusk you may be able to here the Nightjar calling.

ORIENTEERING - Permanent Orienteering course is available, maps can be purchased from the shop at £1.50

BBQ's on special concrete bases are available please call 01842 815434. No personal BBQ's allowed.

PLAY AREAS - A Large Play area and a maze is available - open all year round. The Giant Sculpture trail offers an easy access trail with wooden structures for children to play on. Small people wanting big adventure should try our new Pyramid Slide!

GO APE! - An aerial assult course of extreme rope swings and zip slides. Call 0870 458 9187. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BIKE ART - Explore and enjoy your forest with Bike Art cycle hire. Call 01842 810090.