Ghost · Watton · Famous
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Robins covered them with leaves. The wood still cries.
See it clearly
Norfolk Wildlife Trust says the reserve is free and open dawn to dusk, with a car park about 1km south of Watton on the A1075 (IP25 6PS); only assistance dogs are allowed.
Two children, a wicked uncle and a wood near Watton. Locals called it Wailing Wood, and some still say you can hear why.
Local tradition says this ancient wood is where the Babes in the Wood died. In the old ballad, a wicked uncle wants his orphaned niece and nephew's inheritance, so he pays two ruffians to take them into a forest and kill them. One of the men takes pity, kills the other and leaves the children alone in the trees. They wander until they die of cold and hunger, and robins cover their bodies with leaves. Dutt says people used to call the place 'Wailing Wood', and that the children's crying could still be heard among the trees. Norfolk Heritage Explorer notes the wood's long association with the legend.