{{Short description|Site of Special Scientific Interest near Watton, Norfolk, England}} {{Use British English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox SSSI |image= Wayland Wood, early Spring. - geograph.org.uk - 754598.jpg |image_caption = |name= Wayland Wood |aos= Norfolk |interest=Biological |gridref={{gbmappingsmall|TL 925 996}}<ref name=dsv/> |area= {{convert|31.7|ha|acre|abbr=off}}<ref name=dsv/> |notifydate= 1983<ref name=dsv/> |map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000350%27 ''Magic Map''] }}
'''Wayland Wood''' is a {{convert| 31.7 |ha|acre|abbr=off|adj=on}} biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near to Watton in Norfolk, England.<ref name=dsv>{{cite web|url=https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1000350&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Wayland Wood | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 22 June 2018}}</ref><ref name=map>{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000350%27|title=Map of Wayland Wood|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 22 June 2018}}</ref> It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 2,<ref>{{cite book|editor-first=Derek |editor-last=Ratcliffe |title=A Nature Conservation Review|volume=2 |page= 59|publisher= Cambridge University Press|location =Cambridge, UK |year=1977|isbn= 0521 21403 3 }}</ref> and it is managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.<ref name=NWT>{{cite web|url=https://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-in-norfolk/nature-reserves/reserves/wayland-wood |title= Wayland Wood |publisher= Norfolk Wildlife Trust |access-date=21 May 2018}}</ref>
== Habitat == The wood covers an area of 84 acres (34 hectares) and is located {{Convert|.6|mi|km|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} 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.<ref name=NWT/> The wood is also the only known location in Norfolk where the yellow star-of-Bethlehem grows.<ref>[http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/reserves/norfolk.asp Norfolk Bird Reserves<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://historyofwatton.org.uk/wattonttages/053.htm Watton through the Ages by George Jessop - The History of Watton, Norfolk<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
== Babes in the Wood == thumb|right|Watton Town Sign 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.<ref name=breckland>{{cite web|title=Norfolk Folk Tales - Legends said to have originated in Norfolk|url=http://www.visitbreckland.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=78&Itemid=95|work=Visit Breckland|publisher=Breckland District Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070304150222/http://www.visitbreckland.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=78&Itemid=95#Babes|archive-date=4 March 2007}}</ref> The strength of the legend had grown to such an extent that people visited the area for souvenirs.
== References == {{commons category|Wayland Wood}} {{Reflist}}
{{coord|52.560315|0.839050|display=title|region:GB-NFK_type:forest}}
{{SSSIs Norfolk }} {{Norfolk Wildlife Trust }}
Category:Norfolk Wildlife Trust Category:Forests and woodlands of Norfolk Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Norfolk Category:Watton, Norfolk