Felbrigg Estate - Great Wood

The Felbrigg Estate, owned by the National Trust, is close to the village lying to the east. The estate covers some 1,760 acres (7.1 km2) of parkland and mixed woodland. The dominant feature is the 520-acre (2.1 km2) Great Wood which shelters the house. The estate has particular significance through the connections with Nathaniel Kent and Humphry Repton, both of whom were involved at Felbrigg in the early stages of their careers. A lake, which is invisible from the Hall, was created in the mid-18th century by damming the Scarrow Beck. A pleasant and attractive feature, the lake encourages a wide range of bio-diversity. To the west and north, pasture woodland merges into the Great Wood. Local residents continue to enjoy access to the network of footpaths, many being old rights of way, which run through grassland, woodland pasture and woods. Especially popular is the well-known Lions Mouth, a very pretty beauty spot which can be reached from the main road A148 and is particularly popular with walkers and ramblers. Particular care is taken with veteran trees, and there is a programme for gradual replacement of small 20th-century softwood plantations by hardwoods, notably sweet chestnut, beech and oak, which have long grown here.