Woodland Trail Cache 5 Portingbury Hills Traditional Geocache

This cache is located within Hatfield Forest, the last remaining Royal Medieval Hunting Forest in England.

 

Portingbury Hills is an archaeologically interesting site, which until 2011 was thought to be the remains of an Iron Age settlement. Recent findings show that the site is more likely to be Medieval in origin, however Iron Age artifacts have been found in Hatfield Forest. 

 

Part of a series of caches on National Trust land at Hatfield Forest, Essex
 
The geocache trail at National Trust Hatfield Forest is a way for people to explore and engage with this beautiful and historic forest. The geocaches are hidden within the forest and are accessible from dawn til dusk all year round without charge.

Join the Trail to explore the forest and imagine how the forest has changed during its history. Who has lived here, and what did they use the forest for? Can understanding the past help us to make better decisions about our future?

Each geocache contains a log book for you to leave your name and comments, as well as some information on the immediate surroundings in the forest. The geocaches may be camouflaged with leaves and twigs, so please replace these when you have finished each one so that other people can enjoy the treasure hunt.

Things to be aware of when setting out to find our geocaches:
1. The forest has uneven ground that may be muddy and slippery in wet weather. Wellies or walking boots are recommended!
2. As with any woodland area, there are lots of roots, fallen branches and other trip hazards – so watch where you put your feet.
3. Where you see a ring of posts or sticks around the bottom of a tree, please stay outside of these. Many of our trees are old and need their space! Lots of feet compacting the ground makes it difficult for the roots to do their job. Please give these magnificent ancient trees room by staying outside of any circles of posts or sticks.
4. Keep an eye on young children, especially close to water. Take care crossing stiles and look out for sections of barbed wire along the fence line.
5. Be aware of stinging nettles, brambles and holly (for your own comfort!) and tread carefully around delicate woodland flowers.
6. There are deer in the forest that roam freely. These graceful creatures are very shy but if you’re eagle-eyed you might spot them deep amongst the trees. Please close all gates behind you.
7. Free parking is available at Hatfield Forest for National Trust Members. A parking charge is payable for non members. Please do not park on the roads or paths as this blocks the way for other traffic.
8. Toilets, refreshments and a shop are available on site – please see the National Trust website for seasonal opening times.

Good luck geocaching, have fun and tell us what you think in the log books or at www.geocaching.com