Wayland Wood
Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Location | Norfolk |
---|---|
Grid reference | TL 925 996[1] |
Interest | Biological |
Area | 31.7 hectares (78 acres)[1] |
Notification | 1983[1] |
Location map | Magic Map |
Wayland Wood is a 31.7-hectare (78-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near to Watton in Norfolk.[1][2] It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 2,[3] and it is managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust[4]
Habitat
The wood covers an area of 84 acres (34 hectares) and is located 1 km south of the town of Watton, Norfolk on the A1075 road to Thetford. It is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and features oak, ash, hazel and bird cherry trees, and is also the home to a golden pheasant population.[4] The wood is also the only known location in Norfolk where the yellow star-of-Bethlehem grows.[5][6]
Babes in the Wood
Wayland Wood is also the setting of the centuries-old tale of Babes in the Wood, a brother and sister who were abandoned to die in the woodland. The legend tells that these two children were left in the care of their uncle at Griston Hall on the edge of the woods, following the death of their parents. On reaching maturity they were to inherit their father's fortune, but should they pass before this time the wealth would go directly to the uncle. The uncle abandons the two children to stake his claim to the wealth. Their ghosts supposedly haunt the forest. In 1879, the tree that the babes had reputedly been left under was struck by lightning.[7] The strength of the legend had grown to such an extent that people visited the area for souvenirs.
References
- ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Wayland Wood". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ "Map of Wayland Wood". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ Ratcliffe, Derek, ed. (1977). A Nature Conservation Review. Vol. 2. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 59. ISBN 0521 21403 3.
- ^ a b "Wayland Wood". Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ Norfolk Bird Reserves
- ^ Watton through the Ages by George Jessop - The History of Watton, Norfolk
- ^ "Norfolk Folk Tales - Legends said to have originated in Norfolk". Visit Breckland. Breckland District Council. Archived from the original on 4 March 2007.
52°33′37″N 0°50′21″E / 52.560315°N 0.839050°E / 52.560315; 0.839050
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- Alderfen Broad
- Alderford Common
- Ant Broads and Marshes
- Aslacton Parish Land
- Badley Moor
- Barnham Cross Common
- Beeston Cliffs
- Beetley and Hoe Meadows
- Blo' Norton and Thelnetham Fens
- Booton Common
- Boughton Fen
- Breckland Farmland
- Breckland Forest
- Breydon Water
- Bridgham and Brettenham Heaths
- The Brinks, Northwold
- Broad Fen, Dilham
- Bryant's Heath, Felmingham
- Bure Broads and Marshes
- Burgh Common and Muckfleet Marshes
- Buxton Heath
- Calthorpe Broad
- Cantley Marshes
- Castle Acre Common
- Cawston and Marsham Heaths
- Cockthorpe Common, Stiffkey
- Coston Fen, Runhall
- Cranberry Rough, Hockham
- Cranwich Camp
- Crostwick Marsh
- Damgate Marshes, Acle
- Decoy Carr, Acle
- Dereham Rush Meadow
- Dersingham Bog
- Didlington Park Lakes
- Dillington Carr
- Ducan's Marsh
- East Harling Common
- East Ruston Common
- East Walton and Adcock's Common
- East Winch Common
- East Wretham Heath
- Eaton Chalk Pit
- Edgefield Little Wood
- Elm Road Field, Thetford
- Felbrigg Woods
- Field Barn Heaths, Hilborough
- Flordon Common
- Forncett Meadows
- Foulden Common
- Foxley Wood
- Fritton Common, Morningthorpe
- Gawdyhall Big Wood, Harleston
- Geldeston Meadows
- Great Cressingham Fen
- Great Yarmouth North Denes
- Grime's Graves
- Gunton Park Lake
- Hall Farm Fen, Hemsby
- Halvergate Marshes
- Hardley Flood
- Hedenham Wood
- Hilgay Heronry
- Hockering Wood
- Holly Farm Meadow, Wendling
- Holt Lowes
- Honeypot Wood
- Hooks Well Meadows, Great Cressingham
- Horningtoft Wood
- Horse Wood, Mileham
- Hunstanton Cliffs
- Islington Heronry
- Kelling Heath
- Kenninghall and Banham Fens with Quidenham Mere
- Leziate, Sugar and Derby Fens
- Limpenhoe Meadows
- Lower Wood, Ashwellthorpe
- Ludham - Potter Heigham Marshes
- Mattishall Moor
- Middle Harling Fen
- Narborough Railway Embankment
- New Buckenham Common
- North Norfolk Coast
- Old Bodney Camp
- Old Buckenham Fen
- Ouse Washes
- Overstrand Cliffs
- Paston Great Barn
- Poplar Farm Meadows, Langley
- Potter and Scarning Fens, East Dereham
- Potter's Carr, Cranworth
- Priory Meadows, Hickling
- Pulham Market Big Wood
- Redgrave and Lopham Fens
- Ringstead Downs
- River Nar
- River Wensum
- Rosie Curston's Meadow, Mattishall
- Roydon Common
- Scoulton Mere
- Sea Mere, Hingham
- Sexton Wood
- Shallam Dyke Marshes, Thurne
- Shelfanger Meadows
- Sheringham and Beeston Regis Commons
- Shotesham Common
- Shotesham-Woodton Hornbeam Woods
- Sidestrand and Trimingham Cliffs
- Smallburgh Fen
- Snettisham Carstone Quarry
- Southrepps Common
- Stanford Training Area
- Stanley and Alder Carrs, Aldeby
- Stiffkey Valley
- Swangey Fen, Attleborough
- Swannington Upgate Common
- Swanton Novers Woods
- Sweetbriar Road Meadows, Norwich
- Syderstone Common
- Thetford Golf Course and Marsh
- Thompson Water, Carr and Common
- Tindall Wood, Ditchingham
- Trinity Broads
- Upper Thurne Broads and Marshes
- Upton Broad and Marshes
- Warham Camp
- The Wash
- Wayland Wood, Watton
- Weeting Heath
- Wells Chalk Pit
- Westwick Lakes
- Weybourne Cliffs
- Whitwell Common
- Winterton-Horsey Dunes
- Wiveton Downs
- Wretham Park Meres
- Yare Broads and Marshes
- Bawsey
- Beeston Cliffs
- Bilsey Hill
- Blackborough End Pit
- Bramerton Pits
- Breckland Forest
- Briton's Lane Gravel Pit
- Broome Heath Pit
- Caistor St Edmund Chalk Pit
- Catton Grove Chalk Pit
- Cranberry Rough, Hockham
- Dersingham Bog
- East Runton Cliffs
- East Walton and Adcock's Common
- Glandford (Hurdle Lane)
- Glandford (Letheringsett Road)
- Gooderstone Warren
- Grime's Graves
- Grimston Warren Pit
- Happisburgh Cliffs
- Heacham Brick Pit
- Holkham Brick Pit
- Hunstanton Cliffs
- Hunstanton Park Esker
- Leet Hill, Kirby Cane
- Morston Cliff
- Mundesley Cliffs
- North Norfolk Coast
- Overstrand Cliffs
- Setchey
- Sidestrand and Trimingham Cliffs
- St James' Pit
- Stanford Training Area
- Wells Chalk Pit
- West Runton Cliffs
- Weybourne Cliffs
- Weybourne Town Pit
- Wiggenhall St Germans
- Winterton-Horsey Dunes
- Wiveton Downs
- Wretton