Langley Nature Reserve

The nature reserve was part of a group of Royal Forests until the 16th century when, unlike the New Forest, they declined and reverted to farmland and landscaped parks.

The reserve's ancient woodlands have a long history of management and would have provided local people with a valuable source of timber, wood fuel, forage for pigs (known as pannage) and grazing for livestock. Coppicing was particularly important, and as you walk through the reserve look for old banks and ditches that mark the boundary of coppice enclosures.

Coppicing is the method of cutting trees such as hazel or oak to ground level on a regular cycle. This produces fast-growing shoots for fodder, firewood and making charcoal.