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Wildlife at St Helens
 

Thetford Forest Park
East Anglia
England
Santon Downham and Brandon are the nearest towns or villages.
OS Grid Reference: TL820880
FAMILY PICNICKING AT LYNFORD STAG PICNIC AREAThe Little Ouse Valley between Brandon and Thetford has been designated a Forest Nature Reserve by Forest Enterprise in recognition of its importance to wildlife. Along the valley, wetland areas of alder carr and fen, poplars, damp grazing meadows and reedbeds support a rich variety of plants, insects and birds.
St Helens picnic site, next to the river, is a good base from which to explore. There is also a children's play area.

How to get there:
St Helens picnic site is located on the outskirts of the village of Santon Downham.
From Brandon, take the B1107 towards Thetford. Just outside of Brandon, fork left, signposted Santon Downham and Forest District Offices. Follow this road through the village until you reach the church. Turn left, towards the village shop. Continue on this road, over the river and turn immediately right signposted St Helens Picnic Site.

Local Weather Forecast (Multimap)


Facilities:
Facilities symbols and link to the keyFacilities symbols and link to the keyFacilities symbols and link to the key

Activities
Activities symbols and link to the key
Activities symbols and link to the key

The 5 mile Orange walk (short cut available) can also be accessed from Santon Downham. It has interpretation around the walk on some of the fascination history and wildlife of the area. A Guide Map showing 26 trails around the forest is available for £1 from High Lodge Forest Centre or from the Forest Office (Office hours only)

    Activities symbols and link to the key

A good site for wildlife watching.


Other places to go in Thetford Forest Park
Rishbeth Wood
The Kings Forest
High Lodge Forest Centre
West Stow
High Ash
Thorpe Woodlands
Lynford Arboretum and Lakes
Lynford Stag
Mayday
High Lodge Forest Centre Christmas Tree Sales
Cranberry Rough
Great Hockham
Santon Downham
Two Mile Bottom
Shouldham Warren

Contact:
Recreation Rangers




What's of interest
Historically, the river valley provided an important routeway for travellers. A peep through the mists of time might reveal a picture of pilgrims heading from Brandon, via St Helens well, towards Walsingham Shrine, or a scene with cargo vessels passing through river staunches - a form of lock - sailing from Thetford seaward to the wash !

What's on
What else is here
In St Helens there is also
recreation
Find out more
What's the Forestry Commission doing about sustainable forestry or biodiversity? Try these links to find out.
Search our publications database for more indepth information, or look at Forest Research.

Follow the Forest Code at all times.


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