Forest bathing at Foxley Wood

Foxley Wood, about 25 km north-west of Norwich off the Fakenham road, covers 124 hectares and is the largest remaining ancient woodland in Norfolk. It is a National Nature Reserve run by Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Decades of commercial forestry left it in poor shape, and long restoration work has let the old woodland plants come back. In spring there are bluebells, wood anemone, early purple orchid, ramsons and herb-paris, and the wood has wild service trees, whose leaves turn coppery red in autumn.

There is a car park at the entrance and a few small ones just inside. From there, paths follow wide rides and open glades, with benches along the way, so it is easy to walk a little and then sit for a while. Spring and summer are the best seasons: after the bluebells, butterflies such as white admiral and silver-washed fritillary work the sunny rides, and nuthatch and treecreeper move through the trees. Only assistance dogs are allowed. The reserve is closed on Thursdays.