Grizedale Forest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grizedale Forest |
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View of the northern part of Grizedale Forest
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| Location | Lake District, England |
| Nearest city | Lancaster, Lancashire |
| Area | 24.47 km² |
| Visitors | 200,000 (in 2006) |
| Governing body | National Trust and the Lake District National Park Authority |
Grizedale Forest is a large woodland area in the beautiful Lake District of North West England. It covers about 24 square kilometers (that's roughly 9.5 square miles!). You can find it east of Coniston Water and south of Hawkshead.
This amazing forest is full of hills, small lakes called tarns, and tiny villages like Grizedale. The Forestry Commission takes care of it, making sure it's a great place for everyone to visit. It's a super popular spot for tourists, offering lots of fun activities. You can explore marked walking paths, go mountain biking, or even try an aerial assault course high in the trees! There's also a visitor center with a playground, a cafe, and a shop. The car park for the visitor center is actually where an old building called Grizedale Hall used to stand. You can still see some parts of it today.
Grizedale Forest is also known for hosting exciting car rallies. In the past, parts of the WRC RAC Rally were held here. Today, two annual rallies, the Malcolm Wilson Rally and the Grizedale Stages Rally, still use the forest's tracks.
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Exploring Grizedale Forest's Past
The name Grizedale actually means "Valley of the Pigs." This forest is special because it's home to the last native group of Red Deer in the area.
Historically, Grizedale was part of a region called Lancashire North of the Sands.
A grand house called Grizedale Hall was built in 1905 by Harold Brocklebank. During World War II, this hall was used as a prisoner of war camp for German officers. Brocklebank sold the Grizedale Estate to the Forestry Commission in 1937. The hall itself was taken down in 1957.
Discovering Art: The Sculpture Trail
All around Grizedale Forest, you'll find about 50 unique sculptures. Many of these artworks are made from natural materials found in the forest, like stone and wood. The idea to place sculptures here started in 1977 with Bill Grant OBE, who created the Grizedale Society.
Over the years, more than 250 sculptures have been placed in the forest. Since they are made from natural materials, they slowly become part of the forest again. What made Grizedale's Sculpture Trail special was its artist residency program. This allowed artists to live and work in the forest for six months, creating art inspired by the natural surroundings. Famous sculptors like David Nash and Andy Goldsworthy have created art here.
In 1999, a new organization called Grizedale Arts was formed. Today, Forestry England continues to manage the Sculpture Trail. They have recently gone back to commissioning sculptures made from natural materials, just like in the beginning.
Fun Activities at Grizedale Forest
Grizedale Forest was one of the first forests managed by the Forestry Commission to welcome visitors. At first, people came mainly to watch wildlife from special viewing spots. In 1977, the famous sculpture trail was created. It followed a 10-mile path called the Silurian Way.
Today, there are many different footpaths throughout the forest. They have different colored markers to help you choose a walk that fits your ability. More recently, the forest has added other exciting activities. These include mountain biking, the thrilling Go Ape high ropes course, and even Segway hire!
About a quarter of the 200,000 people who visit Grizedale each year enjoy cycling. A new 9.7-mile mountain biking trail, called the North Face Trail, opened in 2006.
The highest point in Grizedale Forest is Carron Crag, which is 314 meters (about 1,030 feet) high. From here, you can look down on a cool wooden sculpture called a panopticon.
High Ropes Adventure Course
At Grizedale Forest, you can challenge yourself on a high ropes course. This course features exciting ziplines, rope crossings, and Tarzan swings. To join the fun, you need to be at least 10 years old and have a minimum height of 4 feet 7 inches (139.4 cm).
Gallery
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Grizedale Tarn
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Light Column by Charles Grey Bray
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Detail from Mea Culpa by Robert Bryce Muir, 2006
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Lady of the Water
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Woodsman sculpture from Grizedale visitor centre by David Kemp (sculptor)
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Panorama of a sculpture
