Black Forest ✦ Ancient woodland 14 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🍂 Seasonal
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 14 ha
Places › England › South East › Mid Sussex Getting here
50.99881, -0.17682
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ 🌞 Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings 🐕 Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails 📍 Open access throughout summer — no booking required 🌤️ Visiting this summer
🌞 Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings 🐕 Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails 📍 Open access throughout summer — no booking required £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🌿 Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Robin, Mallard +67 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Woodpigeon, Robin, Mallard +67 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage, Bluebell, Hyacinthoides +36 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown +105 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown +105 more · last seen 2026
Free
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
🍄 Mushroom foraging
Strong match
Fungi — Torth Felen, Tardy Brittlegill, Meadow Waxcap +6 more · last seen 2017; Fungi — Torth Felen, Tardy Brittlegill, Meadow Waxcap +6 more · last seen 2017
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 6 signed routes nearby · 11 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
Sussex Diamond Way Walking route 97 km ▾
Named route Length 97 km Regional walking route
Show on map Sussex Ouse Valley Way Walking route 67 km ▾
Named route Length 67 km Regional walking route
Show on map Dophin Lesuire Centre to B2272 Public Footpath Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Ashgrounds Wood Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Green Circle - Walking Relation Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map 12 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Green Circle - Bicycle Relation Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Kings Way Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Norther Arc Avenue Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Norther Arc Avenue Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Haywards Heath Town Centre to Cuckfield Cycle Route Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Rocky Lane Cycle Path Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map 1 public path nearby
Public paths
No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.
✦ Ancient woodland — continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD. A rare and irreplaceable habitat, rich in biodiversity and historical character.
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
All Historic
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id: 38309429-46de-47a4-a38e-ed23d4489918
UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
© 2026 Glade · Made with care for UK green spaces
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Wildlife to spot
5,607 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 5,607 records · National Biodiversity Network Woodpigeon · Robin · Blackbird · Blue Tit · Great Tit +43
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Robin Erithacus rubecula Blackbird Turdus merula Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Great Tit Parus major Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Marsh Tit Poecile palustris Dunnock Prunella modularis Green Woodpecker Picus viridis Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Canada Goose Branta canadensis Carrion Crow Corvus corone Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Magpie Pica pica Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Starling Sturnus vulgaris2023 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Coal Tit Periparus ater Herring Gull Larus argentatus Stock Dove Columba oenas Greenfinch Chloris chloris Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Jay Garrulus glandarius2024 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Skylark Alauda arvensis House Sparrow Passer domesticus Goldcrest Regulus regulus Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Whitethroat Curruca communis Rook Corvus frugilegus Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2024 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo2023 Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata2023 Coot Fulica atra2023 Redwing Turdus iliacus2023 Siskin Spinus spinus2023 Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla2022 Raven Corvus corax2022 Common Gull Larus canus2022 Linnet Linaria cannabina2022 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2022 🦌 Mammals 4 species
winter spring summer
2025 ▾
Brown Long-eared Bat · Common Shrew · Hazel Dormouse · Badger
Brown Long-eared Bat Plecotus auritus Common Shrew Sorex araneus Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Badger Meles meles2023 Slow-worm
Red-headed Cardinal Beetle · Eristalis pertinax · Common Red Soldier Beetle · Lesser Stag Beetle · Dark-edged Bee-fly +10
Red-headed Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis2024 Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva2025 Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus2025 Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major2025 Azure Damselfly 🌿 Plants 22 species
winter spring summer
2025 ▾
Common Valerian · Primrose · Butcher's-broom · Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage · Stone Parsley +17
Common Valerian Valeriana officinalis Primrose Primula vulgaris Butcher's-broom Ruscus aculeatus Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium Stone Parsley Sison amomum Quaking-grass Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 5,607 records · National Biodiversity Network Woodpigeon · Robin · Blackbird · Blue Tit · Great Tit +43
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Robin Erithacus rubecula Blackbird Turdus merula Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Great Tit Parus major Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Marsh Tit Poecile palustris Dunnock Prunella modularis Green Woodpecker Picus viridis Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Canada Goose Branta canadensis Carrion Crow Corvus corone Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Magpie Pica pica Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Starling Sturnus vulgaris2023 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Coal Tit Periparus ater Herring Gull Larus argentatus Stock Dove Columba oenas Greenfinch Chloris chloris Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Jay Garrulus glandarius2024 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Skylark Alauda arvensis House Sparrow Passer domesticus Goldcrest Regulus regulus Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Whitethroat Curruca communis Rook Corvus frugilegus Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2024 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo2023 Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata2023 Coot Fulica atra2023 Redwing Turdus iliacus2023 Siskin Spinus spinus2023 Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla2022 Raven Corvus corax2022 Common Gull Larus canus2022 Linnet Linaria cannabina2022 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2022 🦌 Mammals 4 species
winter spring summer
2025 ▾
Brown Long-eared Bat · Common Shrew · Hazel Dormouse · Badger
Brown Long-eared Bat Plecotus auritus Common Shrew Sorex araneus Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Badger Meles meles2023 Slow-worm
Red-headed Cardinal Beetle · Eristalis pertinax · Common Red Soldier Beetle · Lesser Stag Beetle · Dark-edged Bee-fly +10
Red-headed Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis2024 Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva2025 Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus2025 Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major2025 Azure Damselfly 🌿 Plants 22 species
winter spring summer
2025 ▾
Common Valerian · Primrose · Butcher's-broom · Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage · Stone Parsley +17
Common Valerian Valeriana officinalis Primrose Primula vulgaris Butcher's-broom Ruscus aculeatus Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium Stone Parsley Sison amomum Quaking-grass Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Coenagrion puella2024
Coenagrion puella2024
Closterotomus trivialis Closterotomus trivialis2024
Closterotomus trivialis Closterotomus trivialis2024
Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo2024
Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo2024
Minotaur Beetle Typhaeus typhoeus2023
Minotaur Beetle Typhaeus typhoeus2023
Rutpela maculata Rutpela maculata2023
Rutpela maculata Rutpela maculata2023
Glyphotaelius pellucidus Glyphotaelius pellucidus2023
Glyphotaelius pellucidus Glyphotaelius pellucidus2023
Limnephilus auricula Limnephilus auricula2023
Limnephilus auricula Limnephilus auricula2023
Stenophylax permistus Stenophylax permistus2023
Stenophylax permistus Stenophylax permistus2023
Sylvicola Sylvicola2022
Sylvicola Sylvicola2022
Scathophaga stercoraria Scathophaga stercoraria2022
Scathophaga stercoraria Scathophaga stercoraria2022 Briza media
Briza media
Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis
Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis
Smooth Tare Ervum tetraspermum
Smooth Tare Ervum tetraspermum
Sanicle Sanicula europaea
Sanicle Sanicula europaea
Daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
Beech Fagus sylvatica
Beech Fagus sylvatica
Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur
Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur
Common Tamarisk-moss Thuidium tamariscinum
Common Tamarisk-moss Thuidium tamariscinum
Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium2024
Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium2024
Chicory Cichorium intybus2024
Chicory Cichorium intybus2024
Yellow Pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum2024
Yellow Pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum2024
Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii2024
Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii2024
Wood Sage Teucrium scorodonia2023
Wood Sage Teucrium scorodonia2023
Ash Fraxinus excelsior2023
Ash Fraxinus excelsior2023
Soft Shield-fern Polystichum setiferum2023
Soft Shield-fern Polystichum setiferum2023
Creeping Willow Salix repens2023
Creeping Willow Salix repens2023 