A large wild area of ancient woodland in the Low Weald

The unusual name of this area comes from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘ge-mænnes’, meaning common land. There are great towering cathedrals of beech, their high canopy filtering bright green light to the forest floor in the spring sunshine. Elsewhere oaks
of different shapes and sizes form a more intimate atmosphere with typical ancient woodland trees such as wild service, midland hawthorn,
and spindle.

What you can see

A woodland reverting to a natural state; fungi and meadow flowers

Getting around

The Mens is three miles east of Petworth on the A272. There is a centrally placed car park on Crimbourne Lane, the minor road to Hawkhurst Court from which you can explore the many paths, but compass is worthwhile — it is easy to get lost in this huge nature reserve. The going is flat but often muddy and some of the tracks
are bridleways.

yellow antler fungus by Mark Monk-Terry