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Cottage Wood

✦ Ancient woodland12 ha

📷 Dave Spicer · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsForaging
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome12 ha

Getting here

50.95184, -0.07097

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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
  • 🌿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

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, Carrion Crow +64 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Blue Tit, Robin, Carrion Crow +64 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Plants — Common Nettle, Pedunculate Oak, Hazel +18 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Lesser Celandine, Lords-and-Ladies, Ivy +234 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Migrant Hawker, Common Red Soldier Beetle, 22-spot Ladybird +61 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Migrant Hawker, Common Red Soldier Beetle, 22-spot Ladybird +61 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby · 19 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Sussex Ouse Valley WayWalking route67 km
Named routeLength 67 kmRegional walking route
Ashgrounds WoodWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Greenwich Meridian TrailWalking route440 km

A long-distance walk that follows the line of the Prime Meridian. Inaugurated in 2009, to coincide with the 125th anniversary of the Greenwich Meridian.

Named routeRef GMTLength 440 kmRegional walking route
Green Circle - Walking RelationWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Mid Sussex LinkWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

12 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Green Circle - Bicycle RelationCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Kings WayCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Norther Arc AvenueCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Norther Arc AvenueCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Hurstpierpoint to Downlands Communitiy CollegeCycling route
Named route
Haywards Heath Town Centre to Cuckfield Cycle RouteCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

4 public paths nearby

Public paths

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

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Cottage Wood from north of St Helena Farm

📷 Dave Spicer · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Cottage Wood from north of St Helena Farm

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Ditchling Common Country ParkUrban park2.1 km→🦉CHAILEY COMMONNature reserve3.8 km→🌱Stoneywish Country ParkUrban park4.2 km→🌱St John's ParkUrban park4.6 km→🌱St John's ParkUrban park4.6 km→🏞️DITCHLING COMMONCountry park2.1 km→

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