Activities at Santon Downham

The Little Ouse Valley between Brandon and Thetford has been designated a Forest Nature Reserve by Forestry England in recognition of its importance to wildlife.

Every corner of High Lodge has something just waiting to be discovered, the more you walk around the forest, the more you’ll find.

With play areas dotted around the forest, beautiful trails winding through rich wilderness and thrilling mountain biking opportunities, you’ll be itching to return!

The Heritage Trail at High Lodge, built with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the forest.

A patchwork of pines, heathland and broadleaves provide the ideal setting for a great day out, and a welcome refuge for a rich variety of animal and plant life.

18,730 hectares to explore

The forest covers a huge area with many different places to visit, offering a range attractions from the exciting outdoor play facilities at High Lodge to the history and heritage of Mildenhall Warren and Lynford Arboretum and the peace and tranquility of the walks around Santon Downham.

Glimpsed through the roadside trees, a passing traveller could be forgiven for marvelling at the audacity of the bold deer parading at this popular picnic site.

The distinctive creature, however, is no more than a metal imitation "target stag", found by the workers when the area was being planted.