19/06/2026
🌼 New events lined up for much-loved Brecks Outdoor Festival 🐞
A festival of outdoor activities returns for a third year to celebrate the Brecks, taking place from 8 to 23 August 2026, with regular favourites and some new events.
60 events, many of which will be free, will take place over the fortnight recognising the collaboration of 27 partner organisations in the Brecks Landscape Partnership.
The Brecks is an invaluable part of the UK’s landscape, covering nearly 400 square miles:
🌳 Over 40% of the landscape is covered by conservation areas
🦋 Nearly 13,000 species have been recorded in the area
🐝 28% of the UK’s rarest species are found there
🌲 It contains Thetford Forest and Kings Forest, making the largest lowland forest in the UK
🏦 It is home to eight registered parks and gardens, 157 scheduled monuments and over 1,000 listed buildings
Now a staple feature of the local calendar, a number of popular events will return, including:
🍴 Elveden Estate tour and meal - a behind-the-scenes tour and estate-grown meal
🚣♀️ River Discovery Day - family river dipping activities, themed games and crafts on Thetford Riverside and free guided paddleboarding along the Little Ouse
🚶♀️➡️ The Nine Stiles Walk - a guided walk of the ancient 'Beating the Bounds' route, around the town of Brandon
New events for 2026 include:
🚶♂️➡️ Saints, Sites, and Sights - a long-distance walk following the Little Ouse trail from Brandon to Thetford
🧘 Groove & Meditation - a wellbeing guided walk including elements of music and dance
🦴 Archaeology for Kids - a day-long workshop at West Stow Country Park
✨ Eclipse Effect Edventure - a special night walk to coincide with the summer solar eclipse
🎮 Help Create a Video Game – a drop-in art activity, encouraging children to develop nature-inspired artwork for a new Brecks video game
Other events will include guided walks, creative activities, outdoor yoga, family activities and trails, outdoor swimming and more.
Councillor Morgan Brobyn, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Food, Waste and Rural Affairs, said:
“The Brecks is a fascinating and unique landscape, and the outdoor festival truly helps show it off in all its glory.
“I’m delighted that one festival can champion local food producers at the Elveden Estate, as well as highlighting the great conservation initiatives in the area.
“Whether you want to get active with the walks or cycling, or get creative with music or crafts, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.”
The Brecks Landscape Partnership is a legacy of two previous Partnership Schemes funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and decades of successful local collaboration. Using the money raised by the National Lottery players, the project has been creating positive and lasting change for people and communities in and around the Brecks.
Starting in November 2025, The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded a Resilience Grant of £248,073 to build on everything that’s been achieved so far and create a permanent, self-sustaining Partnership - a long-term united voice for the landscape.
A small partnership delivery team hosted by Suffolk County Council has facilitated successful management of the project, bringing together more than 60 local, regional and national groups, as well as many volunteers - all with a central vision and plan.
The festival runs from 8 to 23 August 2026, the full programme of events can be found at www.brecks.org / Brecks LP
