The People’s History of Thetford Forest
Oral History Project
Thetford Forest’s first trees were planted in the 1920’s to increase and sustain the nation’s dwindling supply of timber resource after the First World War. Today it is the largest lowland man made forest and largest land use change in England. The initial early planting and timber management was undertaken by hundreds of hard working individuals by hand. This project recorded the first hand experiences and accounts of the ageing forest workers who were part of this feat. Volunteers were trained in oral history recording and archiving by the Norfolk Records Office and staff at Forestry England. The interviews they carried out with the forest workers, their wives and members of the community can be listened to on Sound Cloud or by clicking on the names below.
The project was a part of Breaking New Ground, a Heritage Lottery funded Landscape Partnership initiative. We would like to thank all the volunteers and interviewees who took part in the project for the fantastic legacy they have created.
