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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Polecat Wood

✦ Ancient woodland26 ha

📷 Dave Spicer · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome26 ha

Getting here

50.94746, -0.04830

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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 — Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw +61 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw +61 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Ivy, Bluebell, Lords-and-Ladies +255 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Plants — Pedunculate Oak, Common Nettle, Hazel +21 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Insect spotting

Insects — Common Red Soldier Beetle, 7-spot Ladybird, Harlequin Ladybird +54 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Common Red Soldier Beetle, 7-spot Ladybird, Harlequin Ladybird +54 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

10 signed routes nearby · 29 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
South Downs WayWalking route160 km
Named routeLength 160 kmNational walking route
Ditchling Beacon to Devil's Dyke, South Downs walk, Sussex EastWalking route11.2 km

This walk takes in one of the most stunning sections of the South Downs Way. Spring & Summer bring rich plant life thanks to the chalk soil, forming unique grassland habitat. Great bus links from Brighton. Mostly flat until Pyecombe where it gets steep.

Named routeLength 11.2 kmDuration 03:00Point-to-pointRegional walking route
Sussex Ouse Valley WayWalking route67 km
Named routeLength 67 kmRegional walking route
Ashgrounds WoodWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Tolls Walk, Sheffield ParkWalking route2.2 km
Named routeLength 2.2 kmDuration 00:45Round tripLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

7 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Kings WayCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Rocky Lane Cycle PathCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Cooksbridge - Lewes Riverside (ESCC Cycle Route 307)Cycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Ditchling - Cooksbridge (ESCC Cycle Route 206)Cycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Burgess Hill - Haywards Heath Eastern Cycle RouteCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Bolnore Cycle RouteCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
South Downs WayMountain bike route
Named routeRef 89National Cycle Network
🐴

Horse riding

13 public paths nearby

Public paths

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

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Great Home Wood

📷 Dave Spicer · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Great Home Wood

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🦉CHAILEY COMMONNature reserve3.2 km→🌱Ditchling Common Country ParkUrban park3.7 km→🏞️DITCHLING COMMONCountry park3.7 km→🌱Reedens MeadowsUrban park4.8 km→✦PLUMPTON PLACEHistoric site4.9 km→🌱Ditchling CommonUrban park3.7 km→

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