South of Hawkshead is Grizedale, the largest area of Forestry Commission plantation in the Lake District. After the Forestry Commission acquired the estate back in 1936, it actually increased the size of the forest...then comprising ancient oaks and conifers...from 400 hectares to 1700 hectares.
Red and roe deer frequent Grizedale...In fact there are public hides for watching wildlife in the forest...but what distinguishes a forest walk here for most visitors is the presence of forest 'sculptures'...made by artists who have used local materials,mostly wood and rock...along with the forest setting to create a sort of naturalistic modern art gallery...which adds a touch of enchantment to the forest. The sculpture trails, established in 1963 were the first of their kind in Britain,and today are the largest in Britain. There are more than 80 sculptures in the Forest, all made from natural materials by artists staying in Grizedale for varying lengths of time.
Along with outdoor sculptures, outdoor recreation plays a great role at Grizedale with activities such as walking, orienteering, deer stalking, photography and wildlife observation which is on offer all year.
Opposite the Visitor Centre, which stocks a wide variety of products, giftware...and of course Forest maps, is The Theatre in the Forest, which began operating as a professional theatre in 1969. Today it seats over 200 people, and is a venue for regular concerts, plays, films and lectures. Adjacent is a playground with a gigantic wooden bird concealing a slide and a roundabout involving a perpetual hare and hound race. The other building on site is a craft workshop and display room which has changing exhibitions on a regular basis.
Older generations may be interested in learning that the current site of the car park and picnic site was once the home of Grizedale Hall, which during the last war was used as a POW camp for high ranking German officers...one of whom successfully escaped. You may recall the film 'The One who got away', which was based on that escape.
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