Ebernoe Common National Nature Reserve

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Overview

The Ebernoe Common NNR is a varied ancient wood pasture with ponds, streams, meadows and reclaimed arable land being converted back to woodland. It is a superb example of a Low Weald woodland with a history of traditional use. For centuries it was wood pasture, where commoners would turn out their cattle or pigs to graze and browse on young trees and scrub, beech mast and acorns, or on the grassy meadows in clearings. Purchased by the Sussex Wildlife Trust in 1980 when much of the woodland was under threat, repeated mowing and raking by volunteers has seen the return of a rich and varied flora which includes devil’s-bit scabious, adder’s tongue fern, many orchids, and the ancient woodland specialist, the yellow-flowered, spiky-leaved butcher’s broom. Other woodland and meadow wildlife found here includes nightingales, woodcock, purple emperor and silver-washed fritillary butterflies, some rare fungi including magpie fungus, lichens, and dormice and bats.

Location

Balls Cross

About the area

Divided from East Sussex back in 1888, West Sussex has a variety of landscapes and coastal scenery, but it is the spacious and open South Downs with which the county is most closely associated. There are plenty of walking routes in the South Downs National Park, cycling routes by the sea or visitors can explore the pretty town of Arundel with its historic castle and buildings.