Location
The Royal Forest of Dean is situated on the English and South Wales border in the UK, 120 miles west of London (via the M4), 65 miles from Birmingham (via the M5), and 35 from Bristol to the centre of the Forest.
How to get to Beechenhurst Lodge:
Travelling from Coleford to Cinderford on the B4226, continue by the junction with the B4234 (Parkend to Lydbrook road) driving up the Speech House Road for 500m before turning left into Beechenhurst.
GL16 7EL - note: this postcode is for the Speech House - Beechenhurst Lodge is some 200 yds along the road in the direction of Coleford.
Opening Times
Dawn to Dusk daily, every day of the year
There is no admission charge
Beechenhurst Lodge opening times
Beechenhurst Lodge is a Forestry Commission Visitor Centre. For further information on other Forestry Commission events, visit their website by clicking here
April-October 10am to 6pm
November-March 10am to 5pm
(but closing time may vary according to weather)
closed all January after New Years Day
The Sculpture Trail starts and ends at the rear of Beechenhurst Lodge picnic site, off the B4226 (SO 615120), west of Speech House in the heart of the Forest. The full Sculpture Trail is about 3.5 miles long. It can also be explored in a series of shorter distances. Follow the blue ringed posts and direction arrows. Please ensure that you have an up-to-date leaflet (available from Beechenhurst Lodge) before following the waymarked trail!
A Sculpture Trail leaflet in full colour, with large scale map marking locations of each of the sculptures, together with images and short texts relating to each work is on sale at Beechenhurst Lodge, where there are also gifts, information, refreshments and toilets.
There is a picnic site and a childrens’ playground, designed by the sculptor Andy Frost.
Andy Frost drew inspiration from the history of the Dean as a working forest to provide the play furniture adjacent to Beechenhurst Lodge. His sculptures provide a stimulating experience for youngsters up to 12 years old. Various play structures represent aspects of timber production – children can clamber over an oak tree, an old wooden ship under construction, a man and horse leading an old cartload of logs, and woodmen with a crosscut saw, modern lumberjack with chainsaw. The history of mining in the Dean is also portrayed; swings and a ropeway are overlooked by a pithead cage tower, a sliding pole is incorporated into a beam engine used to pump mine water (the original is in the Dean Heritage Museum). These are augmented with various structures based on animals to be found in the Forest.
Car Parking
There is ample hard surfaced car parking
Parking charge is £3.00 for the duration of your visit
Access for all
The Sculpture Trail is within a working forest, with a wide variety of terrain.
However some parts of the Trail are accessible ACCESS FOR ALL (with care!) to wheelchair users and to push chairs
Weather Forecast
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/west
What to Wear
Sensible footwear and, depending on the weather, waterproof clothing.
WARNING-The Forest Commission has erected safety fences throughout the Forest for your protection. These have small red ‘DANGER’ notices attached. Under no circumstances must this type of fence be crossed, as the fenced areas have dangerous drops-quarry faces or mine shafts
Looking after the Sculpture Trail
The Sculpture Trail is maintained by the Forestry Commission with guidance from the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust, which is a registered educational charity.
The Trust also raises funds for commissioning artists to create new works (some permanent, some only intended to be temporary) which interpret the forest and to develop the educational potential of the trail.
Forestry Commission, Bank House, Bank Street, Coleford, Gloucestershire GL16 8BA.
Telephone (01594) 833057
