Visit our nature reserves

Following the new Government guidelines we can confirm that Sussex Wildlife Trust's nature reserves remain open, although all visitor centres and information offices remain closed.

Please stay local to where you live and enjoy your local wildlife, do not travel to our nature reserves.

We would ask that all visitors follow strict social distancing guidelines during their visit to ensure their safety and the safety of those around them. Please also respect the need to keep dogs on their leads at all times to protect birds and other wildlife. Our bird watching hides will be closed, in line with government guidance.

Please observe government guidelines and any local signage at all times.

Important. Please note that dogs (except assistance dogs) are not allowed at Woods Mill nature reserve at any time.

More information on Sussex Wildlife Trust’s response to the Coronavirus can be found here

Woods Mill

A mixture of wetland and woodland habitats.
Rye Harbour

A large coastal reserve with vegetated shingle, saltmarsh and reedbed
Ditchling Beacon

Panoramic views of the Weald from this Iron Age hillfort site of chalk grassland and scrub
Ebernoe Common

Varied ancient wood pasture with ponds, streams, meadows and reclaimed arable land under conversion back to woodland
Eridge Rocks

A majestic sandstone rock outcrop among mixed woodland
Iping & Stedham Commons

Iping and Stedham Commons represent some of the best that this scarce heathland habitat can offer. As rich in atmosphere as it is in wildlife.
Malling Down

Superb chalk grassland and scrub with many typical and rare flowers and butterflies, all within easy walking distance of Lewes town centre
Marline Valley

A very rich wooded valley above a gill stream with meadows, ponds and scrub
The Mens

A large wild area of ancient woodland in the Low Weald.
Old Lodge

Open vistas of heather, with areas of pine woodland, set in the Ashdown Forest
Seaford Head

Seaford Head is the best spot to enjoy the iconic view of the majestic Seven Sisters cliffs.
Southerham Farm

Picturesque rolling downland with chalk grassland flowers and butterflies, set in a working livestock farm as part of the wider Malling Downs area.
Amberley Wildbrooks

Grazing marsh and ditches in a floodplain landscape important for rare birds, insects and plants
Burton & Chingford Ponds

A microcosm of different habitats within one site - various woodland, carr, wet and dry heath, two large ponds and bogs
Brickfield Meadow

A good example of an unimproved Wealden meadow
Cooksbridge Meadow

A quiet, peaceful pasture and a small woodland backing onto a stream
Filsham Reedbed

A large reedbed with ditches and lagoons, set in a river valley floodplain
Flatropers Wood

A peaceful mixed woodland of great variety with streams and an open heathy area
Gillham Woods

A small but characterful oak woodland surviving within an area of modern housing
Graffham Common

Pine plantation on ancient wet and dry heaths with a lovely acid pond.
Levin Down

A superb example of chalk grassland and scrub, rich in flowers and butterflies
Pevensey Marshes

A large area of grazing marsh with numerous ditches and pools
Selwyns Wood

A mixture of woodland types with heathy glades and streams
Waltham Brooks

Grazing marsh with a large open water area important for birds.
West Dean Woods

Traditional hazel coppice woodland with oak standards, and a large colony of wild daffodils
Withdean Woods

A wooded hillside - close to the centre of Brighton
Smaller reserves

Across Sussex, the Trust owns a number of wonderful but tiny nature reserves that for a number of reasons are difficult to access. Some are also home to species that are particularly sensitive to disturbance. These reserves are not open to the public, access is by prior arrangement only.

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Visit our nature reserves

Woods Mill

Rye Harbour

Ditchling Beacon

Ebernoe Common

Eridge Rocks

Iping & Stedham Commons

Malling Down

Marline Valley

The Mens

Old Lodge

Seaford Head

Southerham Farm

Amberley Wildbrooks

Burton & Chingford Ponds

Brickfield Meadow

Cooksbridge Meadow

Filsham Reedbed

Flatropers Wood

Gillham Woods

Graffham Common

Levin Down

Pevensey Marshes

Selwyns Wood

Waltham Brooks

West Dean Woods

Withdean Woods

Smaller reserves

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