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Stanford Training Area
Stanford, Norfolk
Entrance to the Eastmere Training Village - geograph.org.uk - 153455.jpg
Entrance to Eastmere
Stanford Training Area is located in Norfolk
Stanford Training Area
Stanford Training Area
Location within Norfolk
Coordinates 52°31′15″N 0°45′17″E / 52.52078°N 0.75480°E / 52.52078; 0.75480
Type Training Area
Site information
Owner Ministry of Defence
Controlled by  British Army
Site history
Built 1942
Built for War Office
In use 1942–present

The Stanford Training Area, often called STANTA, is a huge training ground for the British Army in Norfolk, England. It's about 30,000 acres (120 km2) big, which is like having over 22,000 football fields! This important area helps soldiers get ready for their missions. It's located about 7 miles (11 km) north of Thetford and 25 miles (40 km) south-west of Norwich. The Operational Training and Advisory Group (OPTAG) manages the site.

History of STANTA

How STANTA Started

STANTA was first set up in 1942 during World War II. The army needed a large space to practice for battles. They even built a special "Nazi village" to make training more realistic.

Before STANTA was created, military exercises were already happening nearby. For example, tanks were used in Thetford during the First World War.

Villages Moved for Training

To create this large training area, six villages had to be evacuated. These villages were Buckenham Tofts, Langford, Stanford, Sturston, Tottington, and West Tofts. People living there had to move out so the army could use the land.

Training for D-Day and Beyond

STANTA was a very important place for training soldiers before the D-Day invasion in 1944. Since then, many different military exercises have taken place here.

For example, the 16th Air Assault Brigade often visits STANTA for their yearly "Gryphon" exercises. Young cadets also use the area to practice their fieldcraft skills.

Modern Training: The Afghan Village

In 2009, a special village was added to STANTA. It covers about 12.5-acre (51,000 m2) and looks just like a village in Afghanistan. This was built to help train soldiers who were going to serve in the War in Afghanistan.

This modern training village cost £14 million to build. It's very realistic, with houses, a market, and even a mosque. To make it even more real, actors play different roles. These include Afghan locals, former Gurkha soldiers, and actors with injuries who pretend to be wounded soldiers. The village even has a system that creates smells like rotten meat and sewage to make the experience more immersive.

What You Can Find at STANTA

Historic Churches and New Buildings

Inside the training area, there are four old churches. The church at West Tofts was even restored by a famous architect named Pugin. There's also a new "church" that is part of a specially built village called Eastmere. Eastmere was originally designed to help soldiers practice fighting in places like northern Europe.

Harrier Landing Strip

STANTA also has a short landing strip called "Harrier." It's located at 52°32′29″N 0°42′06″E / 52.541422°N 0.701805°E / 52.541422; 0.701805.

Access and Safety

Because STANTA is a live firing area, you cannot enter without special permission from the Army. Usually, access is limited to a few guided tours each year. Sometimes, former residents of the villages or their families can visit for special reasons.

Nature and Wildlife at STANTA

STANTA is part of the unique Breckland area, which has sandy heathland covered in gorse. This type of land isn't great for farming. However, using it as a military training area has actually helped protect many old archaeological sites.

Like other military areas in the UK, STANTA is home to many rare plants and animals. These species have disappeared from other parts of the country. Because of this, some parts of the training area are protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

STANTA on Screen

The Stanford Training Area was also used for filming many episodes of the popular comedy TV series Dad's Army.

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