The stunningly beautiful Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire has some incredibly scenic trails around some magnificent lakes. Mallards Pike Lake has the option of a short circular walk of 6.4km or the longer 11.4km that includes part of the Forest of Dean itself. Both full of majestic scenery, the crystal-clear waters of the lakes and plenty of wildlife to keep even the most discerning visitor entertained. The breath-taking beauty of the Cannop Ponds and its 6.1km trail can also be enjoyed by walking the entire 16.4km of the longer trail that encompasses Serridge, Speech House and Cannop Ponds. Probably, one of the most well-known walks around the area is the Forest of Deans, Sculpture Trail that holds a unique, world class collection of sixteen contemporary works of art made from an eclectic mixture of glass, wood, stone and iron. Each piece lovingly and painstakingly crafted by its creator including, the most well-known piece by Kevin Atherton, entitled “The Cathedral”, the stained-glass window hangs majestically from between the treetops.
Taking time off from busy work schedules and enjoying leisurely family days out within the calm trees of the Forest, professional business owners from the local area such as ntocleaning.co.uk/services/office-cleaning-gloucestershire/office-cleaning-forest-of-dean who specialise in Office Cleaning Forest of Dean, feel revitalised and refreshed, ready to give their loyal customers 100% when they return to work. New pieces of art are added to the Trail from time to time and in 2021 a somewhat controversial piece by Khady Gueye and Zakiya McKenzie entitled “Soil Unsoiled” reflected on the real-life inequalities that Khady personally faced as a resident in the Forest of Dean. Written during the Covid Pandemic years, the poem is a collaboration between her and poet/writer Zakiya, the poignant words are etched onto a monolithic, charred pine sculpture.
In 2019, inspired by the history of mining in the Forest, artist, Natasha Rosling, created the large crevice-like structure she named, “Threshold” that walkers can stroll through and actively immerse themselves within its interlocking walls. Commissioned to create a special memorial piece to commemorate the sudden death of Jeremy Rees, one of the original Sculpture Trail founders, and responding to the Forests geological history, artist Annie Cattrell was inspired to design “Echo”. Situated in a small quarry the intricate fibreglass structure replicates the complicated designs of the quarry walls.
