Grove of Silence

Walking through the Forest of Dean, you'll stumble upon something rather extraordinary - a circle of tall wooden sculptures that create an otherworldly atmosphere among the ancient trees. Grove of Silence lives up to its name: step inside the ring of these towering timber sentinels and the forest sounds seem to fade away.

The installation works brilliantly because it doesn't try too hard. These weathered wooden posts, each slightly different in height and character, have been here long enough to feel like they belong. Children find it properly mysterious - mine spent ages whispering to see if the acoustics really were different inside the circle. Adults tend to linger longer, drawn in by the meditative quality of the space.

It's part of the wider Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail, so you can easily combine it with other artworks dotted through the woodland. The walk from the nearest car park takes about 15 minutes through lovely mixed forest - nothing too strenuous but proper walking boots recommended as paths can get muddy.

Families staying at nearby Whitemead Forest Park or Bracelands Campsite will find this makes for a perfect morning expedition. The forest location near Lydney means you're never far from proper facilities, but pack a flask - there's something about this spot that makes you want to sit quietly for a while and just listen to the silence.