IT’S October – the trees are turning red, now is a great time to get outside and enjoy this autumnal array of colour.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s Roydon Woods Nature Reserve is stunning ancient woodland and the perfect place to celebrate autumn with its wide range of wildlife to spot.

Located south-east of Brockenhurst, Roydon Woods is the trust’s largest reserve. It was donated to the trust in 1977 by Peter Barker Hill who felt the trust would be a good custodian.

Covering almost 1,000 acres, the reserve sits in the New Forest, which is one of Europe’s most important areas for wildlife.

At this time of year Roydon Woods bursts with colour, from its fiery beech trees to the dark green of the evergreen yew. But the reserve encompasses more than just woodland, as there are also meadows, heaths and bogs, and the Lymington river winds through its heart.

The wide variety of habitats support a huge range of wildlife, among which are an impressive selection of birds.

As the autumn progresses, redwings and fieldfares, winter visiting members of the thrush family, can be seen feeding on the hawthorn berries, and flocks of great, blue and longtailed tits can been seen and heard moving through the canopy.

There is also an abundance of deer on the reserve. Watch out for roe, fallow or sika deer; hear the scream of sika stags or their rutting (mating) calls, which sound like whistles or burping.

Young badgers are also being pushed out of their setts and there are chances to see them wandering along the paths.

On the ponds, the red common darter and blue and black migrant hawker may still be seen in autumn months.

The woods are host to a huge variety of fungi. Up to 900 different types remain in abundance. One of the reasons for this is because foraging for fungi is prohibited on the reserve.

Most of the woodlands in Britain have been worked for hundreds of years. As a result of this long history of management, much of the wildlife that lives within the woods has evolved to take advantage of the rides and clearings that management creates.

Uncontrolled deer numbers can pose a serious problem to native woodlands and deer numbers are controlled at Roydon to maintain the health of the deer herd and to prevent damage from excessive browsing.

John Durnell, head of estates discussed the future of Roydon Woods, saying: “Our primary aim is to ensure Roydon continues to support a wealth of wildlife.

“With grants drying up we are making greater use of timber produced by our management to sell on a commercial basis. We also sell venison and run a wood fair and local produce show in June each year. Ultimately though it’s all about the wildlife.”

Roydon Woods are working woods and the plants that grow in woodlands are particularly vulnerable to trampling, which means we do ask visitors to stick to the paths. The reserve is much quieter than much of the rest of the New Forest so when visiting the reserve please keep the following guidance in mind: n Please keep dogs close to you on a lead. Always pick up after your dog.

  • Foraging for fungi is strictly forbidden.
  • Please take care around livestock. If you are lucky enough to spot deer please observe them from a distance.
  • Many birds nest and feed on the ground. Please take special care not to disturb them.

For more information, look out for notices at the reserve. You can also access additional information at hiwwt.org.uk/reserves/roydon-woods.