Bernwood Forest
Bernwood Forest is a small woodland remnant of what was once a vast Royal hunting forest spreading over the borders of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The wood today is wholly within Buckinghamshire, running up to the county border. It is in the hands of the Forestry Commission.
The Royal Forest
The old forest is thought to have been set aside as royal hunting land when the Anglo-Saxon kings had a palace at Brill, form the 9th century at least. The church in Oakley was a particularly favoured place of Edward the Confessor, who was born in nearby Islip in Oxfordshire.
From about 1217 through to the 17th century the forest went through a gradual period of deforestation. King Henry II (reigned 1154–1189) prepared a map of the forest at the time which is an invaluable tool in helping define its ancient boundaries; however, his purpose for drawing up the map was to divide the forest amongst his nobles. By the 16th century, another map of the forest had been drawn up by which time it had been reduced greatly in size. Again, the map was drawn up under the aegis of the Crown as an audit to what revenue could be made from selling off the forest. By the reign of King James I (1603–1625), the forest had lost its royal status and had completely disappeared.
The area of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire where the forest was at the time of King Henry II, covering 200 square miles. The approximate boundaries of the designated area today are marked by the Great Ouse, the Padbury Brook, the Claydon Brook and the River Thame.
The woodland of today
The small modern Bernwood Forest in Buckinghamshire encompasses Hell's Coppice, York's Wood, Oakley Wood and Shabbington Wood. A Site of Special Scientific Interest called "Shabbington Woods Complex",[1] it supports a wide variety of wildlife and is one of the most important butterfly sites in the United Kingdom. Its owners, the Forestry Commission, originally had a more commercial approach. Aerial spraying of pesticides occurring up until the late 1960s:[2] firstly DDT to control Hylobius abietis then 2,4,5-T to clear broad-leafed plants (including oak saplings) before planting commercial pine stands.
Holly Wood, Holton Wood, Stanton Great Wood and Waterperry Wood, all in Oxfordshire, are also remnants of Bernwood Forest which are SSSIs.[1]
Outside links
- Location map: 51°48’3"N, 1°6’54"W
- Find out more about Bernwood Forest and the people who lived there in mediæval times.
- Bernwood Jubilee Way guide
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 SSSI listing and designation for Shabbington Woods Complex
- ↑ Haugh Wood history