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Highlights
Forge Cafe
Walking Routes
The 12 miles of walking paths at Thornham Walks allow you to really explore this magical location. The routes take you through beautiful woodlands, stunning parklands, and working farmland.
The trails are very well-marked and easy to follow. A surfaced path leads from the car park to the pond, bird hide, Walled Garden, folly and pets’ cemetery with longer walks across the estate clearly signed.
A map is available in the car park for £1.00.
Accessibility
At Thornham we want everybody to enjoy our beautiful estate so we maintain a surfaced path from the start of the Walks to the Walled Garden, allowing easy access for wheelchair users. The surfaced footpath is approximately a 3/4 mile loop.
Disabled composting toilets are available at either end of the surfaced footpath.
Playground
This exciting and innovative play area was created in 2011 by Thornham Magna Community Open Spaces (TMCOS) in partnership with Thornham Walks, Mid Suffolk District Council and the Thornham Estate, with funding and support from Groundwork UK's Community Spaces scheme part of the Big Lottery.
An old oak tree dominates the play area and so this theme was woven into some of the creative elements, including the bench covered in carved oak leaves, and the giant acorn. There are wooden sculpted animals and a tree is used as a climbing structure. The material predominantly used is wood, the majority of which was donated directly from the woodland on the Thornham Estate.
The Forge Cafe
Sam Mayes and her team welcome you to The Forge, serving up delicious homemade food, various teas, coffees, yummy cakes, and cold drinks. Enjoy light lunches, snacks, ice creams and other treats.
Located near the main car park and play area, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.
The Forge 2024 winter opening times:
Wed: 10:30 - 14:.00 (takeaway & hot drinks only)
Thurs & Fri: 10:30 - 15:30
Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 - 16:00
Check The Forge @ Facebook for updates
theforgethornham@gmail.com
Tel: 01379 831053
Mobile: 07801 018377
Eco toilets
In seeking to further reduce the Thornham Estate's carbon footprint and develop a low-cost option for human waste disposal, the Friends of Thornham Walks led the project to install compost waterless toilets (including two wheelchair-accessible toilets).
The Folly
The 8th Lord Henniker restored the folly in 2000. The building is a remnant of the formal Victorian gardens and originally took the form of a gothic summerhouse. The Victorian gentry would have taken strolls through the gardens and used the folly as a place to sit and talk.
The Walled Garden
Originally the walled garden was part of 25 acres of formal gardens, maintained by 9 gardeners. After the death of the fifth Lord Henniker in 1902 the garden was neglected and became derelict and overgrown. In more recent years the walled garden has undergone restoration and redesign and it is now the base for Beyond the Wall, a charitable project working with disadvantaged young people with mixed disabilities and behavioural problems. The project aims to be a stepping stone for its learners to move on into future education or employment and therefore improve their prospects. The garden is open daily to all visitors to Thornham Walks and has a small seasonal plant and produce stall, the profits from which go directly to Beyond the Wall.
The Pet Cemetery
The Henniker-Major family's pets and horses from years gone by are buried here. The cemetery was renovated at the same time as the folly.
Wood Sculptures
Walk around the Walks and you will come across a variety of wonderful sculptures carved in wood. From sea dragons and lions to insects and mushrooms galore. There are beautiful and fun wood sculptures to discover at Thornham Walks! And we are always trying to add more. Keep an eye out for new residents!
The Enchanted Wood
Created in 2021 with funding from the Friends of Thornham Walks.
An ancient oak next to the Folly was deemed a danger to the public and had to be felled. 650 years of tree disappeared, or so we feared. Instead, we put our heads together and came up with a wonderful idea to celebrate this venerable tree and preserve its legacy. It was turned into giant tables and beautiful sculptures, becoming the Enchanted Wood.
A special thanks go to our tree carvers and woodworking magicians, Andy and Baz of Hearts of Oak, and our team of volunteers for the amazing work. What was a sad loss has been transformed into a wonderful homage, a magical space for young and old alike.
Memorial Trees
Visitors often feel a special connection to Thornham and on occasion, they wish to remember loved ones by planting a tree. As a result, there are many young trees that have been planted to remember and celebrate lives past and new. We plan to continue this tradition and have dedicated a special woodland area - the Memory Wood - for this purpose. Should you wish to remember and celebrate a loved one by planting a native tree.
Please contact the Walks at thewalks@thornhamestate.com or on 01379 831242 for further information.
The Bird Hide
Why not sit in the bird hide and see what you can spot? Birds visit the area regularly and there is always plenty of food for brooding adults and fledged young. A wide variety of birds visit the feeders including blue, great, long-tailed, marsh and coal tits, great spotted woodpecker, chaffinch, robin, nuthatch, pheasant and sparrowhawk.
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Volunteer & Visitor Centre
The Centre is the Thornham Walks visitor hub and arrival point and it houses a permanent display about the Thornham Estate and its history. It will provide a year-round space to host events and activities, as well as being available for hire at a minimal cost
Please contact the Walks at thewalks@thornhamestate.com or on 01379 831242 for further information.
Mini Beast Haven
This quiet spot on the northern limit of the Walks is the ideal place to discover the minibeast world of Thornham Walks. A network of serpentine footpaths winds through a maze of undergrowth. covered in reedy grasses and surrounded on four sides by woodland, it is the perfect place to slow down, stoop down, and get on eye level with the insect world. From woodlice to butterflies, soldier beetles to centipedes, this site is rich in the smallest creatures essential to our ecosystem.
Pupils from Gislingham Primary School have created a geodesic spider sculpture at the site.
Street Forge Workshops, a local charity providing opportunities for adults with disabilities, provided bat, bird and raptor boxes, which have been erected around the permitter of the haven.
Queens Copse
Planted in 2023 by the pupils of Gislingham Primary School, the copse is named in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Trees were donated by the Woodland Trust and include a mix of native species, including wild cherry, maple, birch, rowan, dogwood and hawthorn. These trees replace a plantation of ash trees, which were felled due to ash dieback disease.
A looped footpath has been created inside the plantation so that visitors can access and enjoy the new trees.
In the future, we will create a surfaced footpath access to, and around, the plantation, so that visitors of all abilities can enjoy the wonderful space.
Shops & Businesses
Situated at Thornham Walks, come and discover the independent businesses of the Red House Yard. There are artisan shops, a gallery, gift shops, and lots more.
Accessibility
Eco Toilets
Vistor Centre
Walking Routes
Playground
Artisan Shops
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