Crayons at the ready! 🖍️

Are you looking for something fun and active to do with the kids at Whitlingham Country Park?

Try out our brand new Family Explorer Trail!

We have recently installed 8 chunky oak posts with wildlife rubbing plaques on top. They are low to the ground, ideal for young children to get involved.

Grab your paper and crayons.... get set.... GO!

Bumble bee rubbing plaque, part of the new trail at Whitlingham Country Park

Where can I find this new trail?

This new Family Explorer Trail invites you and your family off the Great Broad circular path into the trees for a woodland adventure, heading along the woods towards the River Yare, and ending up at our log jumble play area to finish (depending on which order you do the trail in).

Log jumble play area at the barbecue site at Whitlingham Country Park

If you want to start from the barbecue site area, no problem! If you have parked in one of our other car parks to pick up your trail pack from the cafe, just drive up Whitlingham Lane to the barbecue site car park and park there using the same pay and display ticket. Easy!

What makes this trail special and different?

Not only is this a rubbing trail, ideal for families, but it also teaches you the British Sign Language (BSL) sign for each creature along the trail. Below each rubbing plaque you will find a helpful image to learn how to sign the name of the wildlife you have found. Cool!

A bespoke BSL sign accompanies each rubbing plaque

How can I get involved?

Great news - It's really easy to get involved in our new trail:

1. 🚶‍♂️‍➡️🚶‍♀️‍➡️ Head down to Whitlingham Country Park, NR14 8TR

2. Visit the Flint Barn Cafe to purchase your trail pack for just £2.50 (which includes your trail map, nature treasure hunt sheet, trail booklet, a sticker and two coloured crayons)

3. Find the location of a rubbing post and go to it. You can walk or jog round this trail. Scooters and small kids bikes will be tricky to use in the woods, so this trail is best completed on foot

4. 🖍️ Place your paper over the plaque and rub a crayon carefully over the top. Try not to let the paper move so you get a clear picture. The plaques are also designed to work with pencil shading, if you happen to have one with you

5. Learn something new by trying out the BSL sign for the wildlife image you found

6. Find another trail post and do the same again until you have found all 8 pictures

7. 🍁In your trail booklet, you'll find there are three spare pages to make rubbings of extra treasures you find, like leaves or bark. Just make sure the crayons are used on the paper only

Purchase your trail pack from the Flint Barn Cafe, summer opening times are 9-5.

The trail is always open for you to try, any day of the year, at any time you choose!

⚠️ Please note this trail route will involve crossing Whitlingham Lane at times, as well as being close to stretches of open water. Always make sure young visitors stay with a responsible adult during your visit so you can enjoy the trail safely ⚠️

Our incredible illustrated trail map by local artist Fiona Gordon

Check out Fiona Gordon's other work on her illustration website.

Great thanks for our funders

This new trail was made possible with funding from the Access to Nature Fund. We are so grateful for the generous support from Aviva, WWF and Norfolk Rivers Trust.

Thanks also to Let's Sign for supplying the wonderful BSL illustrations for you to learn from.

Let us know about your Family Explorer Trail adventure by contacting us through our website or social media pages:

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Have fun! 😁