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Bensonshill Wood

✦ Ancient woodland171 ha

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome171 ha

Getting here

51.07080, -0.18798

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • ☀️June — canopy now fully closed, creating cool dappled shade even on warm days
  • 🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat
  • 🌳Large woodland — room to roam
Parking· Free

Best for

8 activities

Wildlife

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Blue Tit, Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker +64 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Blue Tit, Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker +64 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Hazel, White Earwort, Bugle +200 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Plants — Hazel, Rowan, Bramble +19 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Insect spotting

Lowland heathland — silver-studded blue and heath fritillary butterflies; Insects — Southern Hawker, Willow Emerald Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly +30 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

7 signed routes nearby · 4 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Crawley GreenwayWalking route

walking route around Crawley along many leafy paths, signposted

Named routeLocal walking route
Sussex Ouse Valley WayWalking route67 km
Named routeLength 67 kmRegional walking route
Worth WayWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Accessible Route, NymansWalking route1.2 km

Nurtured for nearly 130 years, the garden features an internationally important plant collection containing species from around the world.

Named routeLength 1.2 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Iron Walk, NymansWalking route3.5 km
Named routeLength 3.5 kmDuration 01:00Round tripLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

91 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route KCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Route J (incomplete)Cycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Route JCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Route F (incomplete)Cycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Route DCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
National Cycle Route 228 Crawley to PulboroughCycling route
Named routeRef 228National Cycle Network
🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
Tilgate Forest SingletrackMountain bike route
Named route
🐴

Horse riding

2 public paths nearby

Public paths

No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Bensonshill Wood

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Bensonshill Wood

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🏞️TILGATE PARKCountry park2.6 km→🌱Tilgate ParkUrban park2.7 km→🌱Waterlea MeadowUrban park4.6 km→✦NYMANSHistoric site2.5 km→🌱Alf Pegler walled gardenUrban park2.5 km→🌱Tilgate ParkUrban park2.6 km→

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Nearby reservoirs

💧

New Pond

South of Tilgate Forest

Medium1.4 km→

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