Trailing the Hidden Heritage of High Lodge

In 2018 Forestry England were awarded £610,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund for a project to make a new trail into the forest to link and interpret its landscape history, wildlife and forest management.

The involvement of volunteers has been the most outstanding aspect of the project. Some were already members of FoTF or have become members and others were completely 'new' to High Lodge and the Thetford Forest.

They have attended forty-eight workshops, day schools or events and carried out research into the historic landscape and the wildlife of High Lodge. This information they have amassed has contributed to the interpretation, dedicated website, and to the learning materials, with a group of especially dedicated volunteers writing the learning activities for both primary and secondary schools.

Overall, the volunteers have given an astonishing 4,326 hours to the project, which amounts to £30,900 of their time (calculated at £50.00 for a 7-hour day).

FoTF can't thank them enough for their enthusiasm, commitment and dedication. They have made the project very special to FoTF.

Forestry England staff have been involved too, with ten recording the tracks for the audio-listening posts along the trail and up to eight others giving generously of their knowledge and experience

High Lodge Heritage Trail

This 4.2km all-ability trail, with short cuts at 1 km and 3 km, makes the forest and its heritage more accessible for everyone as it has a smooth surface suitable for buggies, mobility scooters and wheelchairs and benches and perches at 100m intervals.

Eight audio-listening tell the stories of the heritage features along the trail. Two shelters contain information panels about the wildlife and timber production.

Please make sure you walk the trail when you're at High Lodge - some of the interpretation will change with the seasons - and enjoy the benefits of this National Lottery Heritage Fund funded project.