Local Birding Hotspots List
Discover Sussex's hidden wild places. Browse our curated list of protected nature reserves, each offering unique habitats, wildlife, and landscapes.
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Brighton Marina
Brighton Marina, perched on the eastern edge of the city, is a striking fusion of coastal engineering and seaside vibrancy. Built between 1971 and 1979, it’s one of the largest…
Brooklands Park
Brooklands Park is located between Worthing and Lancing in West Sussex and has undergone significant ecological enhancement in recent years. Previously known for its leisure facilities, it is now managed…
Chantry and Kithurst Hill
Located near the village of Storrington within the South Downs National Park, Chantry Hill and Kithurst Hill form part of a contiguous chalk ridge. These hills are intersected by the…
Cissbury to Chanctonbury
Stretching along the South Downs in West Sussex, the ridge between Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring offers one of the county’s most scenic and rewarding birding walks. This section of…
Ferring Rife
Nestled between coastal wetlands and open farmland near Worthing, Ferring Rife offers birders a gentle yet rewarding escape into one of Sussex’s quieter wildlife corridors. This meandering freshwater stream flows…
Goring Gap
Goring Gap is an undeveloped stretch of coastal plain located between Worthing and Ferring in West Sussex. Though not formally designated as a nature reserve, it serves as an important…
Hollingbury Hill
Hollingbury Hill forms part of Wild Park, Brighton’s largest designated Local Nature Reserve. Situated on the northern boundary of the city, the site is managed by Brighton & Hove City…
Knepp Wilding
Knepp Wilding Project Overview Knepp Estate covers approximately 3,500 acres in West Sussex and has been managed as a rewilding site since 2001. The project is recognised as one…
Lancing Beach & Widewater
Tucked between Lancing and Shoreham Beach, Widewater Lagoon is a slender, brackish ribbon of water running parallel to the sea—separated from the Channel by a man-made shingle bank. This 8.8-hectare…
Lancing Ring & Steepdown
Rising above the village of Sompting in West Sussex, Steep Down is a quiet gem of the South Downs—a broad, open ridge of chalk grassland with sweeping views across the…
Mill Hill
Mill Hill Nature Reserve comprises approximately 13 hectares (33 acres) of chalk downland, scrub, and secondary woodland situated above Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex. It is managed by Adur District Council…
Pulborough RSPB
Pulborough Brooks is a 171-hectare nature reserve managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), located in the Arun Valley near the South Downs in West Sussex….
Sheepcote Valley
Sheepcote Valley is a 90-hectare Local Nature Reserve located between Brighton Marina and East Brighton. Formerly a landfill site, the area has been rehabilitated into a mosaic of semi-natural habitats…
Shoreham Harbour
Shoreham Harbour, located on the West Sussex coast between Shoreham-by-Sea and Southwick, includes key features such as the harbour entrance, Shoreham Fort, and the RNLI Lifeboat Station. This stretch of…
The Lower Adur SSSI
The lower Adur SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) is a protected area, particularly the intertidal stretch of the Adur Estuary, known for its mudflats, saltmarsh, and the birdlife it…
Upper Adur Valley
The Upper Adur Valley extends northward from the A27 flyover in Shoreham to Bramber village, forming a low-lying corridor within the South Downs landscape. The area encompasses a mix of…
Woods Mill
Located just south of Henfield in West Sussex, Woods Mill Nature Reserve covers approximately 19 hectares and is managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust. In addition to serving as the…
Worthing Beaches
Worthing’s beaches, stretching from Goring to Lancing, offer more than just a classic seaside stroll—they’re also a fantastic spot for sea-watching, especially during migration seasons and stormy weather. With the…