Varied ancient wood pasture with ponds, streams, meadows and reclaimed arable land under conversion back to woodland
photo Mark Monk-Terry
nearest town: Petworth
highlights: Orchids and other woodland and meadow flowers, adder's-tongue fern, nightingales, woodcock, purple emperor and silver-washed fritillary butterflies, rare fungi and lichens, dormice and bats.
access: About half of this reserve is ancient woodland - a Site of Special Scientific Interest, candidate Special Area of Conservation, and a National Nature Reserve. It is easy to get lost in the complex system of paths and rides, but the best starting place is from the car park next to the church off Streel's Lane - that way just heading north should bring you back! The ground is flat, but can be muddy, and there are one or two stiles in the boundary fences. The areas to the east and south are farmland under conversion to pasture woodland, with many footpaths providing pleasant walks throughout, best accessed from the Balls Cross-Northchapel road.
size: 156 hectare
nature reserve map: Nature Reserve guide map (.pdf)
more information: Nature Reserve guide entry (.pdf)
