The wood is shown on maps dating from 1766 but is thought to be much older; it is mentioned in documents from 1676, linking it to a John Hawkins. What are thought to be medieval banks and ditches run through the reserve.
The wood is dominated by oak and ash, with an understorey of field maple, hazel and hawthorn. Visit in May to see the bluebells carpeting the northern section of the reserve.
The surrounding open farmland provides grazing for fallow deer, which use the wood as cover. There's also a very good chance of seeing brown hares, which are abundant in the area.
Populations of many bird species associated with farmland are in decline and becoming increasingly hard to see. The hedgerows, open fields and small woodlands around Hawkins Wood provide habitat for several of these species including bullfinch, linnet, yellowhammer, corn bunting, song thrush and grey partridge. Woodcock are known to use the wood in winter. Make sure you bring your binoculars with you!
The previous owner of the Wood, Mrs Joan Pearcy, kindly left the reserve to the Trust in 2008.
Autumn
A walk around the wood at this time of year provides a chance to see various bird species such as treecreeper, nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, redwing, fieldfare and buzzards flying overhead. Hares use the wood to shelter in and are quite easy to see until disturbed, when they shoot off further into the woodland or out into the fields.
The Trust's work at Hawkins Wood
Management work on the reserve focuses on tree safety work, coppicing and glade creation. This allows light to penetrate the woodland and encourages various flower species to grow. Any area that has been coppiced needs to be fenced off to prevent the large number of deer that use the wood from eating the new shoots.
