Reptile Centre Discovery Trail

This Forestry England trail is a waymarked walk. Just follow the waymarker posts to enjoy an easy to follow route for all and sensory trail for children.

Start your trail at the picnic area. You’ll see lots of spruce trees as you start the trail. They stay green all year. Their dark needle leaves are really spiky but the new shoots are bright green and soft. Rub some in your fingers –  what do they smell like?

Look at that big tree stump on the bank! Some of it has rotted down into soil with the help of minibeasts and plants are growing on it. How many plants can you count? Can you see the rabbit hole underneath?

Most of these tall trees are called Douglas Fir and they’re really old. Did you know this kind of tree can live for hundreds of years? Can you reach right round one of the fir trees? How many people do you need? On a warm day and after rain the trees give off a wonderful scent that’s a bit like lemon and a bit like pine. Can you smell it?

There are small trees growing up between the big trees where sunlight reaches the ground. The wind blows the seeds off the trees to the ground where they grow. In spring and summer you’ll see bracken (a type of fern) here, too. It starts all curled up and uncurls as it grows, sometimes taller than you! Crouch down and jump up as high as you can to be as tall as the trees!

Trees are planted close together so they’ll grow up tall. Sometimes some of them are cut down to leave room and help the others to grow. The stumps and logs left behind make great homes for lots of creatures like woodlice, beetles, centipedes and ants. They recycle leaves and dead wood into new soil, and they’re food for bigger animals. Look for beetle holes in the logs… Can you see any minibeasts around here?

At the pond look out for some beautiful dragonflies darting about on a sunny summer’s day. At other times if the water’s clear you might well see insects in the water, including dragonfly nymphs. Tadpoles swim about in spring, and later in the year, tiny frogs emerge from the pond. Try jumping about like a frog or holding out your arms and flying round the pond like a dragonfly.

Look out for a giant log. It must be very old! Do you think it could tell you stories about the forest and all the things that
have gone on here? Get up on the log and see how well you can balance! Get an adult to help, and be extra careful if the log is wet.

Look for the funny old chestnut tree on the left of the path. He has branches like arms and ‘eyes’ looking in all directions. He sees everything and can tell you all about what happens in the forest when people aren’t around. Put your ear to his trunk, ask a question, listen to his answers. What does he say?