Friends of Thetford Forest (FoTF) Logo

Nightjar Evenings Tuesdays 25 June and 2 July 2019, 8.30pm - 10.30pm.

Forestry England’s Ecologist Neal Armour-Chelu and Nightjar Expert Ron Hoblyn are leading these two free evening events, starting from the Kings Forest Picnic Site Car Park on the B1106 Elveden to Bury Road (Grid Ref TL825748). Please wear clothing and footwear suitable for the forest environment and for the drop in temperature as night falls. Binoculars and insect repellent are not essential but are useful.
Booking is not required but further information can be obtained by emailing information@fotf.org.uk

FoTF are looking for volunteers to 'Meet and Greet' at High Lodge Centre and to Check the Walking Trails of Thetford Forest. Click here for more information

The next FoTF Conservation Event is on Sunday 23rd June.

Trailing the Hidden Heritage of High Lodge

A New and Exciting Opportunity for Friends of Thetford Forest (FoTF)

Hertiage Lottery Fund Logo

The Forestry Commission has been awarded £610,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund for a project to make a new trail into the forest which will link and interpret its landscape history, wildlife and forest management.

The 4.2km all-ability trail will make the forest and its heritage more accessible for everyone as it will have a smooth surface suitable for families, less experienced cyclists and those with access limitations. Benches and shelters will give 'rest places' and meet the needs of those with restricted health and mobility.

During the two-year project, there will be opportunities for everyone to explore and research the history of the landscape, take part in archaeological surveys and investigations and learn new heritage skills. There will be training to carry out wildlife surveys; to help produce activities for schools and families and to contribute to interpretation.

If you are interested in this project and would like to be involved, or to book any of these FREE to take part in sessions, listed below, then either:

Or write to:

Project Manager
High Lodge Heritage Project
Forest District Office
Santon Downham
Brandon
Suffolk
IP27 0TJ

Date Activity
24th October 2018 Visit to Suffolk County Council Archaeology department, Bury St Edmunds
30th October 2018 Activity Packs for Schools & Families
31st October 2018 Activity Packs for Schools & Families
4th November 2018 Photographing the Forest
10th November 2018 Discovering the Historic Landscape of the parkland, plantation boundaries and shelter belts
November 2018 Planning for Climate Change in Thetford Forest
1st December 2018 Exploring flint-facing on the warren banks
All activities will take place at the Oak Lodge Community Building at High Lodge and outdoors at High Lodge.

Instructions and information will be sent to those booking places.

Many of these activities are suitable for families and students as well as adults so please enquire if you need clarification, using the contact details above.

Every effort will be made to ensure that activities are accessible to everyone, within the restrictions imposed by the forest terrain.

Previous Events:

Date Activity
27th September 2017 Making funding applications for heritage projects
9th October 2017 How to access and use historic documents - Norfolk Record Office
18th October 2017 How to use the Norfolk and Suffolk Historic Environment Records
8th November 2017 Meeting the Access Needs of All Visitors
14th November 2017 How to interpret aerial photographs and LIDAR Images
6th December 2017 How to care for earthwork sites
12th December 2017 How to research archives for wildlife records
13th January 2018 Exploring Earthworks at High Lodge
20th January 2018 Discovering the Landscape of Warrening
26th January 2018 Discovering Burial Mounds at High Lodge
27th January 2018 Archaeological Investigation to locate the site of the warren lodge of Downham Warren
28th January 2018 Archaeological Investigation to locate the site of the warren lodge of Downham Warren
10th February 2018 Archaeological Investigation to locate the site of the warren lodge of Downham Warren
11th February 2018 Archaeological Investigation to locate the site of the warren lodge of Downham Warren
17th February 2018 Archaeological Investigation to locate the site of the warren lodge of Downham Warren
18th February 2018 Archaeological Investigation to locate the site of the warren lodge of Downham Warren
3rd March 2018 - Morning Identifying and processing finds and writing an archaeological report
3rd March 2018 - Afternoon Further investigation of Horseshoe Pit
17th March 2018 The Origins of the Flint Mines at High Lodge
18th March 2018 Conservation work for Nightjar Habitat
25th March 2018 Discovery Day - The Working Forest
30th March 2018 Community Monitoring of Earthwork Sites
15th April 2018 Improving the habitat for the Great Crested Newt. (FoTF Conservation task)
21st April 2018 How to identify tree species and veteran trees
28th April 2018 How to identify birds of High Lodge and Thetford Forest
9th May 2018 Exploring Trackways and Historic Routes around High Lodge
12th May 2018 How to track and identify animal and bird prints & where to look for them
24th May 2018 The Origins of the Flint Mines at High Lodge
29th May 2018 Investigation of farmhouse site at High Lodge
1st June 2018 Processing and identifying Archaeological Finds
20th June 2018 How to identify plants of High Lodge and Thetford Forest
11th July 2018 How to identify butterflies, moths and insects and Night-flying Moths and Bats
17th July 2018 Drawing and Painting the Forest
20th July 2018 Revealing the Secrets of High Lodge Field
31st July 2018 Archaeology for families at High Lodge
August 2018 Making Arrowheads and Gunflints
25th August 2018 Making Nets for Warrening
8th September 2018 Heritage Open Day
2nd October 2018 Interpretation
3rd October 2018 How to identify deer at High Lodge and Thetford Forest
4th October 2018 Interpretation
6th October 2018 Living off the Land
15th October 2018 Activity Packs for Schools & Families
20th October 2018 Discovering the High Lodge Railway