Forest bathing at Lynford Arboretum

Lynford Arboretum sits just north of Mundford, in the Norfolk part of Thetford Forest, the large planted forest of the Brecks. Most of its specimen trees, including giant American pines and European spruces, were planted in the 1950s and 1960s, and an older avenue of sequoias dates from the 1800s. The Friends of Thetford Forest help Forestry England look after the collection. A lake with a small island lies below, with Lynford Hall on the far side. It is a small, calm place where you can wander between unfamiliar trees without covering much ground.

Most people start from the car park on Lynford Road. Three waymarked trails of different lengths begin here, on mostly level gravel and grass, and a shorter route suits wheelchairs and pushchairs. The paddock near the arboretum is a known spot for hawfinches, easiest to see in winter, and the meadow has a fine dawn chorus from April to July. Spring brings flowers and autumn brings fungi. There are no toilets or bins, so plan ahead and take litter home. Forestry England has been doing tree and dam work around Lynford, so check for closures before you go.