Belfairs Wood
Belfairs Wood is part of the Hadleigh Great Wood complex, together with Belfairs Nature Reserve (also known as Hadleigh Great Wood).
The coordinates above take you to the visitors' centre, where you can pick up a leaflet about the sculpture trail, although this is not necessary for completing the cache. The route is well sign-posted as well as described below. Along the way, there are additional signs giving more information about the woods and the wildlife you might encounter.
As this is a wood, the paths are mostly hard-packed earth, so will be tricky for a small-wheeled buggy or a wheel-chair. The route can also be very muddy at times. The route will take you right past some extra caches, and detours can be made to find even more.
Stage 1 - Wildlife Totem sculpture / Red Fox sign
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From the visitors' centre, turn left and head along beside the road to the first sculpture.
How many metres can the Red Fox jump over? Answer = A metres
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Stage 2 - The Man In The Woods sculpture / Saxon History sign
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Take the path on the left towards Hadleigh, passing the Green Keeper's cottage on your right. As you enter the wood, keep to the right (avoiding the bridleway). Within about 100 metres you will see the next sculpture on your left.
What year was the Saxon tomb discovered? Answer = 200B
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Stage 3 – Hazel Dormouse sculpture and sign
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Continue ahead through the woodland before turning right after the 13th tee of the golf course. The track goes gently uphill. Shortly after the Prittle Brook stops meandering on your left, you will reach the third sculpture, which is unfortunately somewhat damaged now.
What is the date of the Wildlife and Countryside Act that protects the Hazel Dormouse? Answer = 198C
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Stage 4 - Woodsman sculpture / Coppicing sign
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Continue up the hill and you will very soon reach the fourth sculpture
When does coppicing date back to (earliest)? Answer = D000 BC
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Stage 5 - Badgers sculpture and sign
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Now turn right by a large oak tree with a white painted band around its trunk and follow the small path with 'dead hedging' on the left. The path soon meets the fairway on the right and goes past another of our caches GC67BR0 Belfairs - Hard Hat Required. After passing the golf course's 16th green, take the path on the right round the back of the 17th tee, then turn right again on the track. At the 17th tee, you will pass yet another of our caches GC67RB3 Belfairs - Tee Time. On the track, you will soon reach the next sculpture (sadly very damaged), on a handy bench.
On the sign, how many animals, including badgers, are given as examples of the mustelidae family? Answer = E
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Stage 6 - Heath Fritillary Butterfly sculpture and sign
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Now follow the track along the 17th fairway (watching out for errant golf balls), then turn right immediately after the green. Go back into the woodland onto another smaller track and continue straight ahead to the crossroads of paths where you will find the last sculpture (also rather damaged).
In which month of the year do Heath Fritillary Butterflies emerge? Answer = F
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Turn left onto the metalled path and it will take you back to the visitors' centre.
You should now have all of the information that you need. The final cache location can be found by using the numbers in the following formula:
N 51 33. [A+B] [F-E] [D+2]
E 000 38. [D-B] B C
The cache is not far from the path. Please be wary of muggles while you are rummaging / signing. Happy hunting