Park Heath

Gated forest track near to West Tofts Norfolk.

Country road near to West Tofts, Norfolk. The bend and the building mark the end of the public road from the building and beyond is all part of the M.O.D. Stanford training ground.

Stacks of timber awaiting collection and a shooting tower to try to control Roe Deer numbers.

STANTA stands for STANford Training Area situated roughly TL 8495. The area was established in 1942 when a battle training area was required and a 'Nazi village' established. Military exercises were already taking place in the area; tanks had deployed to Thetford in the First World War. The complete takeover involved the complete evacuation of the villages of Buckenham Tofts, Langford, Stanford, Sturston, Tottington and West Tofts. The occupants of the houses were all rehoused in the belief that they would be allowed to return after the war. However the site was so valuable to the military that they have taken up permanent occupancy. The area was used during the run-up to the D-Day invasion and since then has hosted many exercises. The battle area includes four historic churches; the one at West Tofts was restored by Pugin and a new "church" forms part of the specially constructed village of Eastmere. Eastmere was originally built to give soldiers experience of fighting on the northern European plains. There is a short landing strip for Harrier aircraft at TL 8332 9704 As a live firing area, access is not allowed without special permission from the Army. In the main this is limited to a number of tours a year and compassionate grounds for former residents of the villages or their relatives. The area forms part of the distinctive Breckland landscape region, a gorse-covered sandy heath which offers poor agricultural opportunities but farms are still active and sheep graze within its confines. Arguably, its use as a military training area has safeguarded a substantial archaeological landscape. It is the home of a wealth of rare species of flora and fauna already lost in other parts of the country. Parts of the training area are designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The battle area was used in the filming of many of the episodes of the TV comedy series, Dad's Army.

STANTA stands for STANford Training Area situated roughly TL 8495. The area was established in 1942 when a battle training area was required and a 'Nazi village' established. Military exercises were already taking place in the area; tanks had deployed to Thetford in the First World War. The complete takeover involved the complete evacuation of the villages of Buckenham Tofts, Langford, Stanford, Sturston, Tottington and West Tofts. The occupants of the houses were all rehoused in the belief that they would be allowed to return after the war. However the site was so valuable to the military that they have taken up permanent occupancy. The area was used during the run-up to the D-Day invasion and since then has hosted many exercises. The battle area includes four historic churches; the one at West Tofts was restored by Pugin and a new "church" forms part of the specially constructed village of Eastmere. Eastmere was originally built to give soldiers experience of fighting on the northern European plains. There is a short landing strip for Harrier aircraft at TL 8332 9704 As a live firing area, access is not allowed without special permission from the Army. In the main this is limited to a number of tours a year and compassionate grounds for former residents of the villages or their relatives. The area forms part of the distinctive Breckland landscape region, a gorse-covered sandy heath which offers poor agricultural opportunities but farms are still active and sheep graze within its confines. Arguably, its use as a military training area has safeguarded a substantial archaeological landscape. It is the home of a wealth of rare species of flora and fauna already lost in other parts of the country. Parts of the training area are designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The battle area was used in the filming of many of the episodes of the TV comedy series, Dad's Army.

STANTA stands for STANford Training Area situated roughly TL 8495. The area was established in 1942 when a battle training area was required and a 'Nazi village' established. Military exercises were already taking place in the area; tanks had deployed to Thetford in the First World War. The complete takeover involved the complete evacuation of the villages of Buckenham Tofts, Langford, Stanford, Sturston, Tottington and West Tofts. The occupants of the houses were all rehoused in the belief that they would be allowed to return after the war. However the site was so valuable to the military that they have taken up permanent occupancy. The area was used during the run-up to the D-Day invasion and since then has hosted many exercises. The battle area includes four historic churches; the one at West Tofts was restored by Pugin and a new "church" forms part of the specially constructed village of Eastmere. Eastmere was originally built to give soldiers experience of fighting on the northern European plains. There is a short landing strip for Harrier aircraft at TL 8332 9704 As a live firing area, access is not allowed without special permission from the Army. In the main this is limited to a number of tours a year and compassionate grounds for former residents of the villages or their relatives. The area forms part of the distinctive Breckland landscape region, a gorse-covered sandy heath which offers poor agricultural opportunities but farms are still active and sheep graze within its confines. Arguably, its use as a military training area has safeguarded a substantial archaeological landscape. It is the home of a wealth of rare species of flora and fauna already lost in other parts of the country. Parts of the training area are designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The battle area was used in the filming of many of the episodes of the TV comedy series, Dad's Army.

The Army's training area covers 30,000 acres of South Norfolk. This is the assault course at West Tofts. There will be many grid squares (at least 50) where public access is not permitted.

One of the many entrance points to the firing area.

These cottages have been barricaded up, presumably to keep out the soldiers.

The question begs, to keep "them" in or "us" out?

Sheep grazing in the Stanford Firing Area.

Informative sign adjacent to entrance to Stanford firing area.

These portable toilets are a surprising find in the firing area.