Primary - Contributing to local economies: 2010 High Lodge

Countryside development At the heart of the East of England are the Brecks, and in its centre is High Lodge, with its 100+ ha recreation zone in Thetford Forest. Sited between Brandon and Thetford, this on-going Green project is part of a wider access and tourism strategy for Thetford Forest. A strategy designed to benefit the increasing number of visitors along with a rapidly growing local population.

Until about twenty years ago it was a derelict Breckland work camp. Now it is a substantial, family-oriented visitor centre attracting over 300,000 paying customers per annum from across the region.

Not surprisingly, with an audience as large as this, several commercial ventures have been attracted to the site and proven highly successful. High Lodge supports several in-house ventures too. There is the excellent ‘Food to go’, plus a thriving venue business catering for commercial meetings, and the central area hosts popular concerts.

Every year new attractions have been added, or old favourites re-vamped, so that visitor numbers have steadily climbed.

High Lodge Fact File
Size: 100ha.
Walks: 4 different waymarked trails, offering walks from 1 mile to 6.
Cycling: 34 miles of off-road tracks - both 'black' routes and family-friendly
Horse trails:
Visitor features: the Go Ape aerial adventure, Bike Art, fully equipped Visitor Centre (100 seat cafe, shop and toilets), Adventure play area, Sculpture Trail to the Squirrel's
Maze, time-line feature, Conference centre.
Numerous picnic spots
Parking: 2800 spaces
Site Entry Fee: Payable per vehicle accessing the site
Open: 0900 – dusk
Created: on-going

Website:
www.forestry.gov.uk/highlodge