We recently escaped to POD’s Grandparents, affectionately known as Baba and Gagam, for a few days. Having had the best time at Felixstowe beach paddling, looking for shells and making sandcastles, the following day was spent in the forest.
Like the Alice Holt forest we regularly visit, High Lodge in Thetford Forest is managed by the Forestry Commission.
POD headed off to explore the play area almost as soon as we arrived.
It wasn’t long before she was running around in an excitable fashion scaling everything in sight.
Even testing out the more challenging climbs that were perhaps a little too big for her!
We were lucky to stumble across The Gruffalo. POD did the trail at Alice Holt a few weeks back so she was happy to do a great impression of “oh help, oh no it’s a Gruffalo”. This mainly involved running round in circles waving her arms in the air. The Gruffalo did get a cuddle though.
After this initial bout of excitement, we headed to the car to collect picnic supplies. The little rain that had appeared soon dispersed and we were able to enjoy the most fabulous feast in the woods, the smell of pine all around.
After sitting on a small chair away from the rest of us, POD decided to collect fir cones and attempt to climb a tree. She also tried to take a photograph of everyone with my camera, capturing mostly trees and a little sky.
The Sculpture Play Trail includes natural wood posts with mini sculptures and arrows. There is lots to do along the way and much to explore. POD thoroughly enjoyed pretended to be a spider!
The previous rainfall had generated many opportunities for jumping in muddy puddles. Although POD had launched herself over a fair few, lost her balance and regained it again, it was inevitable this would happen! Thankfully with the sun out she didn’t take long to dry!
The play sculptures reflect real life in the forest – a spider, a woodpecker, forwarder, woodlark and a rabbit. POD loved the woodpecker and came down via the pole on several occasions.
She even gave the monkey bars a go albeit briefly!
High Lodge is larger than Alice Holt but the forest is just as beautiful. There’s something rather wonderful about being surrounded by trees and bracken lined pathways.
POD had already done a great deal of climbing but insisted on scaling up and down this sculpture. She has incredible balance although I’m sure having no fear helps too!
She had so much fun here she didn’t want to leave!
But she was getting a little weary! After a little help from Daddy, we headed back to where we started. POD was rewarded for all her walking and climbing with a lolly. As were we (seemed only fair)!
Linking up with What’s The Story? here on PODcast.
Lovely photos of such natural Country Kids style fun. The play equipment there looks so sturdy and natural all in wood. How do you keep my favourite rainbow hat on while POD is charging around?
What a wonderful outing! Looks like somewhere you could return to again and again for hours of fun too x
Looks like a great playground.
That looks like a really beautiful fun place to explore and play. I love walks in the forest like that.
Looks like a fantastic day. Lovely pictures x
A muddy bottom is a sure sign that fun was had! And I love those tree shots, the first one especially. The light is fab 🙂
Gorgeous photos. Looks like POD had a brilliant day. Still love that hat.
Yay you found the Gruffalo too! I also hope you have that hat in many sizes as I feel it is her trademark and when she is older everyone will say “oh you’re the superstar with the hat!” Lovely sunny fun. Which makes me sad as it’s tipping it down! xxx
Looks like a perfect day out for Pod with all that stuff to climb everywhere. Z isn’t that into the Gruffalo but would happily try to leap off everything 🙂
Great shots and looks like a fab place – she was clearly having so much fun! xx #whatsthestory
What a lovely place to explore and play! I love that the multi-colored hat as returned. It becoming her signature accessory and it’s nothing short of precious to see.
Gorgeous pics! The Alice Holt Forest looks stunning!
…And I definitely recognize the shot of your little climber!!!
#whatsthestory
Gorgeous photos. I love Thetford forest so much xxx
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