Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadows Nature Reserve

We spoke to Sue Hand, volunteer for one of Sussex's many fine community groups - the Friends of Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadows Nature Reserve.

Tell us a bit about the reserve itself

Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadows is a Nature Reserve in Haywards Heath. The area was identified as a strategic gap between Cuckfield and Haywards Heath in 1996, and designated a Nature Reserve in 2004. The total area is 68 acres, so it’s big. There are two deciduous woodlands, some of which appears on the Ancient Woodlands map. There are eight meadows, five ponds and an ancient hedgerow. Historically, the area was productive woodland and the ponds are thought to be the result of clay extraction. The meadows were pastoral farmland.

And the Friends group? 

The Friends Group was formed in 1997 to improve and restore the habitat. Our Chair is a founding member, and still leads the monthly working party. There are around 40 members who receive the quarterly news. Of those, around 10 regularly work on the reserve.

Are you looking for new members?

Yes, absolutely. New volunteers are very welcome. No experience is necessary, tools are provided and mid morning refreshments. We meet on the third Saturday of the month, mornings between 9 and 12, in the car park at Blunts Wood Crescent. Any and all help is gratefully received.  

Tell us about some of the wildlife found there and what you do to support it

There is a diverse range of habitats. Our mission is to support the best possible habitat for all wildlife. During the winter months, there is much coppicing to be done, we are rewarded with swathes of Wood Anemone and Bluebells in the spring. The meadow edging of bracken and bramble and the removal of overly dominant Ragwort, and recently a little Himalayan Balsam, are all kept in check to encourage the summer glory of the meadows. 

We encourage surveys and recording of species. In 2025, a butterfly survey concluded the site is a haven for butterflies, 27 species were recorded. We identified ways to support the butterfly habitat and they have now been adopted across the reserve. We would love to see more field work for other wildlife. Future projects include work on our ponds to make them more wildlife friendly, especially for Great Crested Newts and other amphibians.

What are your favourite areas and why?

The view down across the valley from the benches in South Meadow, with dragonflies hovering round the abundance of flowers. The woodland in spring, as the Anemones emerge and birdsong is the only sound. Ashurst Mead, a meadow at the bottom of a valley, a quieter area with an abundance of flowers such as the Spotted Orchid.

For more information, and current dates for meeting, please contact Sue [email protected]

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