FoTF Notices

The latest FoTF newsletter (Autumn/Winter 2023) has been released, view it here

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Friends of Thetford Forest (FoTF) Projects

Friends of Thetford Forest (FoTF) has raised over £200,000 in grants and spent over 120,000 volunteer hours on projects to help improve Thetford Forest for wildlife and people.

Our projects include:

12 benches installed along the All-Ability Trails at High Lodge Forest Centre, St Helen's Picnic Site, Santon Downham and Lynford Arboretum with a £5,000 grant from Awards for All.

The opening of the screen on the Goshwak Trail

The 2002 restoration of the medieval warrener's lodge in Mildenhall Woods and the creation of a circular walk, complete with interpretation boards, with £50,000 in grants from English Heritage; the Heritage Lottery Fund and Forest Heath District Council.

Improvements to the Goshawk Trail at Mayday, near Brandon costing £3,000 made up of £2,000 from our Corporate Members (See Corporate Members' Page) and £1,000 from our membership subscriptions.

8 purpose-made bikes suitable for use by the disabled and sensory-impaired, available for hire from the onsite Bike Hire & Shop at High Lodge, with £12,500 in grants from Awards for All and the Local Network Fund and £4,225 from FoTF funds. FoTF have also funded the purchase of a wheelchair for visitors to High Lodge as part of its aim to increase enjoyment of the forest for all visitors.

Mobility Cycles purchased by FoTF

The creation of a tree sculpture at High Lodge, sadly this sculpture had to be removed in 2013 as it had succumbed to the elements.

A new wildlife hide with access for all at High Lodge Forest Centre. FoTF has also given over £1,000 in donations to support the work of the Forest Rangers.

Providing the funding for the installation of 12 benches to be placed around the giant play sculptures at High Lodge Forest Centre.

The 2013 restoration of the medieval warrener's lodge roof in Mildenhall Woods with grants totalling £80,000 from English Heritage and the Forestry England to help conserve the Lodge.

The multi-year Trailing the Hidden Heritage of High Lodge project where information volunteers amassed contributed to the interpretation, dedicated website, and to the learning materials for the new trail in the forest to link and interpret its landscape history, wildlife and forest management.

Financial donation towards the new "Working Forest" play equipment at High Lodge.

Various improvements to the forest habitat by the volunteers of FoTF Lynford Arboretum and FoTF Conservation during their respective conservation events and investigation of, and caring for, archaeological sites by FoTF Archaeology.