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The Birches

✦ Ancient woodland10 ha

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Free entryDogs welcome10 ha

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
Parking

Best for

7 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Mute Swan, Magpie, House Sparrow +56 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Mute Swan, Magpie, House Sparrow +56 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Herb-Robert, Willowherb, Dandelion +46 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Broad-bodied Chaser, Southern Hawker +17 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Broad-bodied Chaser, Southern Hawker +17 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic; Plants — Dandelion, Common Nettle, Bristly Oxtongue +4 more foraging species

Varies

Heritage

Ancient woodland — historic landscape

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Crawley GreenwayWalking route

walking route around Crawley along many leafy paths, signposted

Named routeLocal walking route
Worth WayWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Reigate and Banstead Millennium TrailWalking route
Named routeRef RBMTRegional walking route
Tandridge Border PathWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Sussex Border PathWalking route220 km
Named routeLength 220 kmRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

167 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
Route BCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
Tilgate Forest SingletrackMountain bike route
Named route

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Track towards gasworks, Crawley

Track towards gasworks, Crawley

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