The environment
We’re not only home to our owners and their guests, but our 80 acre woodland is home to a plethora of wildlife. We’re passionate about protecting the species that live alongside us, and we encourage you to be too.
Home sweet home
As part of the David Bellamy Home Sweet Home challenge, we have set up a range of bird and bat houses around the park. Our Nestbox bat boxes are fully weather-proof, made from 100% recycled plastics, and tailored to the four different bat species in Norfolk. Bats like to live high up in trees (up to five metres!) so you might not be able to see their boxes from the ground. Keep a look out at sunset when our furry friends leave their homes to hunt for food.
Although the bat boxes are out of sight, you’ll be able to see the many bird boxes – some made from recycled timber from the park – around the park to house our local bird species. You’re welcome to put up your own bird houses around your holiday home to encourage some feathered friends to take up residence.
Tree planting
Of course, being set in beautiful woodland, we have a lot of time for the trees that shelter us, shade us and provide homes for so many animals. We take great care of the trees on the park, but also plant new ones. In 2021, we planted over 1,000 new trees including hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, flied maple, guelder rose, plum, crab apple and dogwood. This mix of native trees will attract all sorts of wildlife to the park as well as providing a stunning show of colours in all seasons.
Some of our trees even have edible fruits and flowers. In late spring, the elder tree produces sweetly scented flowers which are used to make elderflower cordial. We also have a number of fruiting trees, so watch this space for Woodland Park Jam!
Bird feeders
We love giving birds a helping hand, especially in winter, so we stock our bird feeders with sunflower seed hearts, wild bird seed mix and fat balls. The feeders are squirrel-proof so the birds can eat in peace – but don’t worry, you’ll often catch the squirrels cleaning up any spilled seed on the ground.
If you’d like to feed the birds, make sure you provide plenty of feed in a dry, clean feeder throughout autumn and winter. In the spring we’d recommend switching to mealworms for the chicks. In late spring and summer you can remove your feeder and clean it with hot water.
Insect friendly
We don’t just plant any old plants here at Woodland Park, but we make sure that trees, flowers and plants are all as insect-friendly as possible to provide nectar for a wide range of insects.
By planting lots of bee-friendly flowers such as wildflowers, you too can create a garden that welcomes insects.
Did you know? Only queen bumblebees live longer than the summer months. They hibernate over winter and look for a new nest that is warm and dry in spring, producing only a few new queen bees each year.
Jubilee Memorial Garden
In memory of our founders, Edward and Jill Harrison, we have designed a memorial garden for everyone to enjoy as a place for reflection, solitude, or gatherings to remember loved ones.
The garden includes a raised decking and pergola area with seating, as well as a British wildflower meadow, raised planing beds with a mixture of Edward and Jill’s favourite plants, a sensory herb garden and an orchard with fruiting trees.
You can find the garden next to the fishing lake.
Nature Trail
We hope you find time to enjoy our wonderful nature trail, which takes around 45 minutes at a leisurely pace. Please ask for a map at reception or start at the club house and follow the information signs. Younger trail-goers might like the challenge of finding the letters and unscrambling them to make a nature-related word.
Please note, the trail is unsuitable for buggies and those less able due to a steep section of the walkway. Dogs are welcome, but please keep them on a lead.
Norfolk Coast Partnership Dark Skies Friendly Site
Light pollution can be hugely disruptive to our sleep, but it also has a detrimental environmental impact. Here at Woodland Park, we are a Dark Skies Friendly site, so we are committed to making sure we’re doing all we can to minimise light pollution.
We encourage owners to only use external lights that are a warm light colour of >3000K, facing downwards. Please ensure lights are switched off when not in use.
Waste management
At Woodland Park, we have four types of bins, dry mixed recycling, general waste, food waste and glass recycling.
The food bins are in the bar and restaurant compound. Everyone is allowed to dispose of their food waste there. More food bins will be added if the current ones are used well. The other bins can be found in every compound on park.
