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.
Our Downland nature reserves at Southerham Farm and Malling Down sit on the fringes of the East Sussex county town of Lewes, with Malling Down dominating the easterly skyline of this quaint historic town.
Both sit within the chalk massif of the Lewes Downs and are part of the South Downs National Park. They share their space with Glyndbourne and Glynde estates and the Lewes Golf Course. The ancient hillfort of Mount Caburn is found on the south easterly corner of the Lewes Downs overlooking the main stretch of the South Downs separated by the River Ouse and surrounding wet meadows that extend down to the sea at Newhaven. This ancient hillfort is often highlighted by paragliders hanging in mid-air above its earth works.
- Postcode:
- BN8 6ST
- Grid ref:
- TQ456089
- Reserve size:
- 131 hectares
In this section
News
Where to see… orchids
30 May 2023
There are about 56 species of orchid native to the UK and 23 of those can be found across Sussex Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves. These are some of the best reserves to visit in search of beautiful and elusive wild orchids.
Why chalk grasslands are so important - part two
17 April 2023
Development has eaten away at our stunning Downs, but with planning laws, then protective designations, this has dramatically slowed. In the second of two blogs, Phil Belden talks about the vital importance of protecting and caring for it.
Why chalk grasslands are so important - part one
16 April 2023
The first Wild Isles programme featured chalk grassland. Phil Belden explains why it’s such an incredibly important habitat.