Cotchford Forge, 160m SSE of Ryecroft Farm 0 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds✦ Heritage
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 0 ha
Getting here
51.08501, 0.09768
Open directionsv ✦ Scheduled Ancient Monument — Nationally protected archaeological site on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE). Scheduled monuments represent the best surviving examples of England's irreplaceable archaeological heritage.
Smithy scheduled monument
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ ☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit ✦ Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting 🐕 Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days 🌤️ Visiting this summer
☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit ✦ Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting 🐕 Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🦉 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 — Robin, Carrion Crow, Blackbird +79 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Robin, Carrion Crow, Blackbird +79 more · last seen 2026
Free
Historic site with public access
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Bracken, Holly, Gorse +49 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Bracken, Holly, Gorse +49 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Bog Bush-cricket, Eristalis pertinax, Speckled Bush-cricket +33 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Bog Bush-cricket, Eristalis pertinax, Speckled Bush-cricket +33 more · last seen 2025
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic; Plants — Bramble, Hazel, Beech +1 more foraging species
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 6 signed routes nearby · 5 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
Chelwood Vachery (Ashdown Forest on foot) Walking route ▾
Named route Ref AF-CV Local walking route
Show on map Vanguard Way Walking route 111 km ▾
Named route Ref VGW Length 111 km Regional walking route
Show on map Sussex Border Path Walking route 220 km ▾
Named route Length 220 km Regional walking route
Show on map High Weald Landscape Trail Walking route ▾
Named route Ref HWLT Listed length 145km Regional walking route
Show on map Forest Way (Sussex) Walking route ▾
Named route Regional walking route
Show on map 14 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Avenue Verte London ↔ Paris Cycling route ▾
English part of Avenue Verte London ↔ Paris, an international cycle route that connects the two capital cities
Named route Ref AV International cycle route
Show on map Route 21 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 21 National Cycle Network
Show on map Main Route Cycling route 1.6 km ▾
Named route Ref 21 Length 1.6 km National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface unsealedfirm
Show on map Main Route Cycling route 3.7 km ▾
Named route Ref 21 Length 3.7 km National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface unsealedfirm
Show on map Main Route Cycling route 44 m ▾
Named route Ref 21 Length 44 m National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface unsealedfirm
Show on map Main Route Cycling route 14 m ▾
Named route Ref 21 Length 14 m National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface asphalt
Show on map 16 public paths nearby
Public paths
Cotchford Lane bridleway · 835 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 835 m Surface asphalt Path type: service
Show on map Poohsticks Bridge bridleway · 6 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 6 m Surface unpaved Path type: bridleway
Show on map Cotchford Lane bridleway · 477 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 477 m Surface asphalt Path type: service
Show on map Cotchford Lane bridleway · 98 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 98 m Surface asphalt Path type: service
Show on map
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
All Historic
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id: 19942cca-e50b-4112-9361-62ba394d4d02
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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Bookable tours Wildlife to spot
10,310 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 10,310 records · National Biodiversity Network Robin · Stonechat · Chiffchaff · Blue Tit · Crossbill +40
Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Stonechat Saxicola rubicola2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2025 Crossbill Loxia curvirostra2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Linnet Linaria cannabina2025 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Swallow Hirundo rustica2025 Redwing Turdus iliacus2025 Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus2025 Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii2025 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis2025 Whitethroat Curruca communis2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Siskin Spinus spinus2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Marsh Tit Poecile palustris Woodlark Lullula arborea Corvus corax corax Corvus corax corax2025 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2025 Raven Corvus corax2025 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata2025 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra2025 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Swift Apus apus2025 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti2025 Stock Dove Columba oenas2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius2025 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris2025 Skylark Alauda arvensis2025 🦌 Mammals 3 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Common Pipistrelle · Soprano Pipistrelle · Badger
Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus Badger Meles meles Adder
Meadow Grasshopper · Marmalade Hoverfly · Athous haemorrhoidalis · Batman Hoverfly · Cantharis fusca +3
Meadow Grasshopper Pseudochorthippus parallelus Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus Athous haemorrhoidalis Athous haemorrhoidalis Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea Cantharis fusca Cantharis fusca Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula Platycheirus albimanus 🌿 Plants 31 species
spring autumn
2025 ▾
Bracken · Holly · Downy Birch / Silver Birch · Bell Heather · Purple Moor-grass +26
Bracken Pteridium aquilinum Holly Ilex aquifolium Downy Birch / Silver Birch Betula pubescens/pendula Bell Heather Erica cinerea Purple Moor-grass Molinia caerulea Tormentil Potentilla erecta Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 10,310 records · National Biodiversity Network Robin · Stonechat · Chiffchaff · Blue Tit · Crossbill +40
Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Stonechat Saxicola rubicola2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2025 Crossbill Loxia curvirostra2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Linnet Linaria cannabina2025 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Swallow Hirundo rustica2025 Redwing Turdus iliacus2025 Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus2025 Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii2025 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis2025 Whitethroat Curruca communis2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Siskin Spinus spinus2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Marsh Tit Poecile palustris Woodlark Lullula arborea Corvus corax corax Corvus corax corax2025 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2025 Raven Corvus corax2025 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata2025 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra2025 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Swift Apus apus2025 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti2025 Stock Dove Columba oenas2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius2025 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris2025 Skylark Alauda arvensis2025 🦌 Mammals 3 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Common Pipistrelle · Soprano Pipistrelle · Badger
Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus Badger Meles meles Adder
Meadow Grasshopper · Marmalade Hoverfly · Athous haemorrhoidalis · Batman Hoverfly · Cantharis fusca +3
Meadow Grasshopper Pseudochorthippus parallelus Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus Athous haemorrhoidalis Athous haemorrhoidalis Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea Cantharis fusca Cantharis fusca Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula Platycheirus albimanus 🌿 Plants 31 species
spring autumn
2025 ▾
Bracken · Holly · Downy Birch / Silver Birch · Bell Heather · Purple Moor-grass +26
Bracken Pteridium aquilinum Holly Ilex aquifolium Downy Birch / Silver Birch Betula pubescens/pendula Bell Heather Erica cinerea Purple Moor-grass Molinia caerulea Tormentil Potentilla erecta Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Platycheirus albimanus
Platycheirus albimanus
Green Tiger Beetle Cicindela campestris
Green Tiger Beetle Cicindela campestris Hard-fern
Hard-fern
Blechnum spicant
Blechnum spicant
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
Bramble Rubus fruticosus
Bramble Rubus fruticosus
Western Gorse / Dwarf Gorse Ulex gallii/minor
Western Gorse / Dwarf Gorse Ulex gallii/minor
Gorse Ulex europaeus
Gorse Ulex europaeus
Wood Melick Melica uniflora
Wood Melick Melica uniflora
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata
Mossy Saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides
Mossy Saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides
Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Wood Sage Teucrium scorodonia
Wood Sage Teucrium scorodonia
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens
Tufted Hair-grass Deschampsia cespitosa
Tufted Hair-grass Deschampsia cespitosa
Meadow Oat Helictochloa pratensis
Meadow Oat Helictochloa pratensis
Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix
Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix
Hazel Corylus avellana
Hazel Corylus avellana
Wood Speedwell Veronica montana
Wood Speedwell Veronica montana
Pignut Conopodium majus
Pignut Conopodium majus
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Cleavers Galium aparine
Cleavers Galium aparine
Sweet Vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum
Sweet Vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum
Carnation Sedge Carex panicea
Carnation Sedge Carex panicea
Conifer seedlings/saplings Conifer seedlings/saplings
Conifer seedlings/saplings Conifer seedlings/saplings
Starry Saxifrage Micranthes stellaris
Starry Saxifrage Micranthes stellaris
Primrose Primula vulgaris
Primrose Primula vulgaris
Heather Calluna vulgaris2024
Heather Calluna vulgaris2024 