Introduction: This woodland nature reserve, owned and managed by Sussex Wildlife Trust, is an intimate mix of heath and different woodland types, including sweet chestnut coppice and oak / hazel / hornbeam / cherry planted after the 1987 storm.
Location: Just over 2 miles west of Heathfield, East Sussex, accessed off Fir Grove Road.
What can I do? Explore the site and see how management is gradually increasing the amount of heathland and heather present, as trees are thinned /removed to increase light levels.
What can I see? Linked to the increasing amounts of purple-flowered heather, there are other acid-loving plants present, such as the yellow-flowered tormentil, goldenrod and broom. Dormice are present in the wooded areas, but you would be very lucky to see one!
What can I hear? Great spotted woodpecker and cuckoo are among the woodland birds that occur on site.
Information available: A simple pdf site information sheet (90 KB) is available here
Grid Reference: TQ551205(OS Map)
OS Map: 199 (Landranger, 1:50,000)
Opening times: All year
Prices: Free
Terrain: some tracks are muddy, although mainly flat except for the steep sided gill
Nearest train station: Buxted 4.1 miles
Nearest NCN route: Route 21, 2.2 miles at Heathfield
Where can I park? Small car park
Where can I get further information? Please see the Sussex Wildlife Trust's website.