The Grounds

The wood or ‘forest’ as many children call it is not ancient woodland but was originally planted in the 1840s and so has many very mature trees – mainly beech, oak, ash and sycamore. Groups are allowed to use a large area of the woodland adjacent to the houses to play and explore safely.

Woodland learning is a very popular activity run by Marcus, to learn more about trees and woodland in a fun and hands-on way. They learn new skills in an enjoyable way which helps them to develop personally and to understand and appreciate the woodland environment. Sessions generally last around 2 hours and  can include, fire lighting, shelter building and cooking on an open fire. To book your session contact Marcus here.

The wood is full of wildlife and for many children, young people and adults it is their first opportunity to see animals and birds that many of us take for granted. We often see rabbits, hares, stoats, deer, foxes, badgers, mice and the occasional hedgehog. The birdlife is prolific – we regularly see and hear buzzards mewing and calling whilst flying overhead and recently red kites have been seen frequently in the local area. There are feeding stations and nest boxes outside both houses that attract many varieties of small birds including robins, tits, finches, nuthatches, woodpeckers, thrushes etc. Small video cameras are attached to some of the nest boxes and images are relayed to the computers in the games rooms where groups can see chicks hatching in the spring and early summer months.

There is something to see and do in all seasons of the year but Macaroni Wood looks particularly beautiful in the spring months when the leaves are fresh and all shades of green after what have, in recent years, been long and cold winters. The colour of the leaves as they turn in the autumn and the cold crisp days of winter as well as the summer days that can be spent playing and learning outside all make Macaroni Wood an ideal location for a residential visit.