The new Julia Donaldson trails at Forestry England have just been announced and for 2023 it is Zog. There are 26 Zog trails across the UK in Forestry England sites (full list below). They launch on the 30th January and make great family walks. Read on to find out all about these fantastic trails and pick which one you will visit in 2023.
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Zog trails
If you are a regular visitor to any Forestry England site, you will have noticed that they love Julia Donaldson books and usually have a trail running which changes each year. Many of them also have permanent Gruffalo sculptures and sometimes his friends too. Find the best Gruffalo trails in the UK here.
For 2023, Forestry England has partnered with Magic Light Pictures to bring Zog trails to a forest near you. Zog is a much-loved dragon from the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The new trail features a free interactive app (developed by Arcade). The app encourages children to care for their forests as well as teaching them how forests care for us.
We’ve done many of these trails over the years and they always make a fantastic walk. I love how the trails keep children entertained on a walk as well as connecting them with the natural world around them. The trails are usually around 1 mile long and perfect for young children.
Zog trail free app
The apps are fantastic too. Kids love technology and their apps are always enticing and bring the characters to life. The augmented reality app is free to download and includes bonus activities to complete such a roar-ometer, a chance to become Zog and a dance challenge! Don’t these sound fun for young children?
Zog trail activity pack
There is also an activity pack that you can purchase at each forest. It costs £4 and includes lots of activities to do in the forest to gain golden stars. There are also a pair of wings for your child to wear, as well as magic glasses to help them look for hidden letters to solve the word puzzle. At the end of the trail is an opportunity to complete a crayon rubbing and take a selfie with Zog as well as get their certificate.
The pack also contains the trail leaflet, stickers, pencil and crayon and the bag can be decorated when you get home too!
Where can we complete a Zog trail in North West England?
There are 4 Zog trails in the North West:
- Grizedale Forest, Lake District
- Whinlatter Forest, Cumbia
- Delamere Forest, Cheshire
- Gisburn Forest, Lancashire
Which of these will you choose to visit?
Find more details of Delamere forest walks here.
Where are the full 26 Zog trails?
As well as the 4 forests in the North West, there are an additional 22 trails across the UK.
Here is the full list of all 26 trails
- Haldon Forest Park, Devon
- Cardinham Woods, Cornwall
- Moors Valley Country Park, Dorset
- Alice Holt Forest, Surrey
- Bedgebury Pinetum, Kent
- Grizedale Forest, Lake District
- Whinlatter Forest, Cumbia
- Beechenhurst, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
- Wyre Forest, Worcestershire
- Haughmond Hill, Shropshire
- Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire
- Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire
- Guisborough Forest, North Yorkshire
- Delamere Forest, Cheshire
- Fineshade Woods, Northamptonshire
- Hicks Lodge, Leicestershire
- Cannock Chase Forest, Staffordshire
- Sherwood Pines, Nottinghamshire
- Salcey Forest, Northampton
- Jeskyns Community Woodland, Kent
- Hamsterley Forest, Durham
- Wendover Woods, Buckinghamshire
- Thames Chase Community Forest, London
- Gisburn Forest, Lancashire
- High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Suffolk
- Kielder Forest, Northumberland
I hope you have found a Zog trail near you and that you all enjoy your visit to these great family trails.
Where to next?
Find more family walks North West here.
Once you get home, here are some fantastic Gruffalo activities for toddlers to enjoy.