The Oxfordshire Museum
Woodlands
Discover the animals who inhabit our woodlands and how they are managed.
What you can expect
Explore the role and importance of woodland in the Oxfordshire landscape.
Not only does it contribute so much to our wellbeing and the cleanliness of our air, but it is a part of people’s experience of the county, particularly the tourist experience.
Some residents still rely on the woodland, directly and indirectly, for their income. In past centuries the coverage was greater, but we must be careful not to over romanticise its volume. Taking a look at the 1086 Domesday book, only 16 per cent of the county was covered by woodland.
The most striking display contains a variety of taxidermized woodland animals. Taxidermy can be difficult to display – the preservation chemicals are toxic and the organic material can attract destructive insects. Our woodland animals range from a wood mouse to a fallow deer but please note, none of these animals were killed to be included in this display.
We also have on display cases containing a range of woodland tools, from a hunting crossbow to a chainsaw and of course some wonderful stone axes.
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