So today we had planned a day out to High Lodge in Thetford Forest and
guess what? Yeah that's right it's raining. Lots! Don't you just love
British weather? So not only do we have to get our "off road"
buggy, changing bag and picnic basket in the boot but also our wellies
and waterproofs. Luckily the Meriva boot is a great size so it fits in
no problem.
We arrive in the car park and not surprisingly not many cars are there,
it's a week day and most people have more sense than to trek through a
forest in bad weather. I can't help feeling a bit smug as the Meriva is
the nicest car there.
The normally quiet forest centre is very noisy today, it's
over-run with builders preparing a stage for the summer concerts that
occur each year, they have some well known acts in the next few weeks
including Scouting for Girls, Doves, Katie Melua, and The Saturdays.
The workmen don't get in our way of heading straight to the cafe for a
cup of tea and a pasty till the rain dies down though.
After our bite to eat we decide to take a walk along one of the trails,
we chose the squirrel trail which is about 3 miles. Every now and again
we reach an information post telling us about the wildlife that lives
here in the forest, so now I know all about the population of red
squirrels and roe deer. At the end of the trail we come across a
maze. I remember this maze as a kid and unfortunately it is now a
little worse for wear and the giant animal climbing frame no longer
exists. However a new play area has been created in another part of the
forest. The swings and climbing apparatus are all made
out of wood from
the forest so all very eco-friendly. There's also a giant woodpecker
with a slide for a tail and a climbing frame in the shape of a logging
truck with an information board to teach children all about the way the
forest works. Who says learning can't be fun.
Seren is a little too young to enjoy a lot of the activities (which
include mountain biking trails, go ape - an assault course up in the
trees, and paintballing) but she very much enjoyed hearing the birds
and seeing ducks and squirrels and trying to eat a pine cone or three.
It was a race against the thunder back to the car we managed to pack
up before the storm rolled over us. Seren was asleep within seconds of
being strapped in the car seat, must be all that country air. Daddy and
I just sat there with the sunroof blind rolled right back watching the
lightning and eating cake. It was very romantic.
We really enjoyed our day in the forest and will definitely bring Seren
back when she is a little older and the weather is a little warmer.