The nature reserve is currently the largest ancient woodland and coppice in Norfolk. The woodland is recorded in Domesday Book and parts of it are known to be over 6,000 years old.[1] For the past 1,000 years, it was a source of wood (including hazel), but demand decreased in the 20th century.[1][8] Because of the drop in demand, Foxley Wood became neglected. In the 1990s it was privately owned and managed by the Forestry Commission,[10] and was acquired by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust in 1998.[9]
It is open to the public every day except Thursday.[3]
Flora and fauna
The woodland is rich in flora with over 250 species recorded. These include
oak (found in the centre of the wood on sandy ground[6] Conifers were planted throughout as timber,[8] disturbing the original distribution of stand types;[10] they are being removed.[8] Areas have been indiscriminately sprayed with herbicides in the past.[10]
Besides conifer planting, spraying with herbicides, and the cutting of all saleable trees (before the Forestry Commission began managing the wood), the wood is damaged by roads and ditches resulting from timber exploitation: "Foxley Wood has been badly damaged by modern forestry."[10]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Foxley Wood.
References
^ abc"Foxley Wood". UK Attraction - East of England. 18 July 2002. Retrieved 23 May 2012.