The Locale
Train Wood is situated in the North of Norwich, directly across the river from Wensum Park. It is one of the closest wooded areas to Norwich city centre. The wood itself bisects the area between the City Trading Estate and the River Wensum, shielding the park, Drayton Road and St Martin’s Road from views of industrial buildings and shuttering on the estate.
The northern end finishes at Dolphin Bridge, the site of the former A frame railway bridge, continuing the green wall that is formed by Anderson’s Meadow. The southern end of the wood is the entrance to Marriott’s Way, next to Halfords on the Barn Road Roundabout, once the site of the main station concourse and platforms of the old Norwich City Station.
Much of the area to the West was formerly terraced housing, local shops and businesses. This was all damaged by bombing during the Second World War, and the area rebuilt more or less based on the Norwich City 1945 Plan.
The nearest other green space is off Midland street, which is a managed park, and another small park at St Bartholomew, an old church yard and ruined church.
As it stands, the woodland and Marriott’s Way provide a green corridor for commuters to walk or cycle in from the north of the city. Together with Anderson’s Meadow it provides a long continuous area of wood and grassland that gives a welcome break from pavements and buildings, with river views along nearly the whole length.
An aerial view of the north of Norwich taken during the late 1920s, showing the dense areas of late 19th and early 20th century terraced housing built to accommodate local workers, especially those working in the shoe trade. Wensum Park can be seen in the foreground; completed in 1925 on the bank of the River Wensum by Captain Arnold Edward Sandys-Winsch, what is now Train wood sits next to the railway yards on the opposite bank of the river. Courtesy Nick Stone/Invisible works.
Community Value
Train Wood and the Marriott’s Way is a valuable shared space for, among other things:
Walking – many people use this as a daily route into the city, as well as a long distance path out to the countryside.
Cycling – the path is the most used in the eastern region.
Heritage – Norwich’s main railway station once stood here, and parts remain – some still undiscovered.
Nature watching – there are a vast number of species, including kingfishers, otters, and even a fabled nightingale in the rare wet and dry woodland.
Health and relaxation – the riverbank path loop and main trail are used by joggers, runners, walkers, and dog walkers.
Angling – the fishing platforms are in disrepair but at one stage this was the city’s foremost public angling spot.
River watching – the River Wensum is a rare spring-fed chalk stream and SSSI, and Train Wood runs along its bank.
Green link – the site provides a rare and valuable green link for biodiversity and humans, from the heart of the city of Norwich.
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