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 Trust’s administrative headquarters, the site functions as a key centre for environmental education and conservation outreach.

Habitats and Features
The reserve comprises a range of natural habitats:

• Ancient woodland: Dominated by oak and hazel coppice, supporting a broad range of invertebrates and breeding bird species
• Freshwater Lake and Scrapes: Home to aquatic and semi-aquatic wildlife, particularly odonata species like the Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva) and Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea)
• Wildflower meadows: Attract pollinators and provide foraging areas for bird and mammal species
• Streams and reed margins: Function as corridors for species movement and breeding sites

Facilities include a network of boardwalks and surfaced paths that allow year-round access for visitors and educational groups.

Avifauna (Birdlife)
Seasonal variation in habitat use brings a range of bird species to the site:

• Spring/Summer: Vocal species include Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Cetti’s Warblers, and Nightingales. Turtle Doves may be observed or heard in hedgerow areas. Reed Warblers are common in lake-edge vegetation.
• Predatory birds: Kestrels and Barn Owls regularly hunt over meadows. Raptors such as Buzzards, Red Kites, and Hobbies are occasionally recorded in flight.
• Waterbirds: Mute Swans, Little Grebes, and Kingfishers are frequently present on open water and banks.
• Woodland species: Sightings include Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Treecreepers, and Nuthatches.

Conservation and Education Role
As an exemplar of lowland countryside habitats, Woods Mill provides baseline data and serves as a reference site for local biodiversity. It is frequently used for school programmes, field studies, and ecological research.

Search for Birds seen in Woods Mill