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About Us
Established in 1986, this 4.5 mile long Sculpture Trail was one of the first to open in the UK. The trail features sculptures created by artists to interpret the Forest environment and the history of this very unusual landscape. It provides a unique opportunity to walk through the woodlands and discover art along the way. Perfect for all ages and abilities, you don't need to know about art to enjoy what you see.
Highlights on the trail include Cathedral, a 15ft high stained glass window suspended from the tree canopy enabling visitors to walk underneath, and Iron Road, twenty sleepers on a former railway line carved with images of the Forest. There are two new commissions to visit: Threshold evokes local geology and the history of mining below the Forest of Dean, and Soil Unsoiled, a poem etched in charred pine, speaks of belonging in the Forest.
The sculptures are installed within the woodland to encourage you to seek them out. The posts with purple markers will direct you. If you want to make life easier for yourself you can buy a map at Beechenhurst Lodge.
The sculptures are commissioned by Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust CIO, a charitable organisation working closely with Forestry England, who fundraise to install artworks on the Trail. As new sculptures are installed, old ones decay and are removed; this was always the intention, just as the forest continually decays and is refreshed. To read more about past and present sculptures on the Trail, or to make a donation for future commissions, please visit www.forestofdean-sculpture.org.uk
We hope you enjoy your visit to the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail and will come again to see the new sculptures and to take part in events at Beechenhurst Lodge.
Don't forget to download our free audio guide to make the most out of your visit - https://www.forestofdean-sculpture.org.uk/visit/
- Free entry but there is a parking charge at Beechenhurst
- Maps can be purchased for £1
- Open all the time
- Walk Route: Follow trailmarkers with purple arrows
- Location: Grid Ref SO6112, Post Code GL16 7EG
- Duration: 1.5 hours+
- Distance: 4.5 miles
To celebrate the trail's 35th anniversary in 2021 nine new sculptures were installed, eight of which were on a temporary trail during the summer some of which have remained in place and some removed. Encouraging visitors to reconnect with nature, sculptures which are still in place include ‘Animal Shelter’ by Michelle Cain, which takes the form of a badger, one of the Forest’s natural residents; and ‘Shovel Bugs’ from Atelier LandArt, which uses repurposed garden trowels to showcase the often-overlooked bug life on the forest floor.
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Facilities
Booking & Payment Details
- Free Entry
Catering
- On-site light refreshments
Children
- Children welcome
Parking
- Parking with charge
Property Facilities
- Dogs Accepted
- Public toilets
Suitability
- School Trips
Target Markets
- Accepts groups
- Coach parties accepted
Opening Times
* Access to the Sculpture Trail is available all year round, from dawn to dusk. Please check Beechenhurst Lodge information for cafe and shop opening times.
