Site Focus - Langley Wood National Nature Reserve
Whilst you are out and about in Wiltshire, explore Langley Wood National Nature Reserve (NNR)
Langley Wood NNR is an extensive tract of ancient, mainly oak, forest. It is 218 hectares in size and contains a variety of native trees including Small-leaved Lime, Sessile and Pedunculate oak and Hazel. The wood supports many species of plants and animals including Wood Anemone, the Silver-washed Fritillary, Common Lizard and Dormouse.
The wood stands on acid clays, locally overlain by sands and gravels. The varied soils and drainage have produced a rich and diverse woodland and several species of tree and shrub present in Langley Wood are now rare or extinct in the New Forest. Most notable of these is Small-leaved Lime.
September and October are excellent times to visit Langley Wood to see an array of fungi, of which, Dead Man's Fingers are easy to spot. Due to the wet summer this year there should be a bumper year for fungi.
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September and October are the best times to visit Langley Wood NNR to see fungi
Honey fungus (Arlillaria mellea), Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius), Glistening Inkcaps (Coprinus micaceus), Dusky Puffball (Lycoperdon nigrescens) and Dead Man's Fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) are just a few of the fungi that can be seen in Langley Wood over the next few months.
The local plant life includes indicators of ancient woodland such as Solomon's-seal and Southern Woodrush. The site also supports many 'old forest' lichens. Dormouse and five species of deer are found in the wood together with breeding birds such as Wood Warbler, Woodcock and Lesser-spotted Woodpecker.
