Wychwood

Wychwood is a 501.7-hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest north of Witney in Oxfordshire. It is also a Grade 1 Nature Conservation Review site, with 263.4 hectares designated as a national nature reserve. The forest contains a Neolithic long barrow, a scheduled monument, and traces of Bronze Age round barrows. Three villages—Milton-under-Wychwood, Shipton-under-Wychwood and Ascott-under-Wychwood—take part of their name from the forest. These villages were once part of the Royal Forest of Wychwood. The forest’s history reaches back to at least 3000 BC, with earthworks like Knollbury Camp and Grim’s Ditch built between 500 BC and 40 AD. During Roman times, Akeman Street crossed the region, and Roman villas were found at North Leigh and Stonesfield. By the 10th century, a royal hunting lodge stood at Woodstock. The Domesday Book of 1086 recorded Wychwood as a Royal Forest where the king held hunting rights. Visitors find ancient woodland, footpaths and open rides. The Cornbury Estate near Charlbury retains a fragment of the original forest. The Wychwood Forest Trust holds an annual Forest Fair centred on rural skills and local traditions. The Wychwood Warriors re-enact Saxon life in the forest. Turner, Cristall and Bowley painted scenes of Wychwood in the 18th and 19th centuries.