About the reserve

Wayland Wood is one of the largest woods in south Norfolk. Take an early morning walk in May to experience the wonder of a woodland dawn chorus in this atmospheric reserve. 

The reserve includes a fine mix of native tree species, including blocks of ‘coppiced’ hazel. Coppicing is a traditional woodland management technique of cutting trees right back to ground level to encourage regrowth. This creates dense scrub, ideal for nesting woodland birds, such as warblers and nuthatch. Coppicing is used today to benefit wildlife; however, the wood has a history of coppicing going back to the 10th century.  

A huge variety of flowering woodland plants have been recorded here, marking it as a truly ancient woodland. Bluebells, yellow archangel, water avens, wood anemones, early purple orchids, common twayblade and the rare yellow star-of-Bethlehem all grow here.