Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve

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Overview

Kingley Vale NNR is best known for its twisted and ancient yews and includes a grove of veteran trees some of which may be among the oldest living things in Britain. The reserve is in a steep-sided dry valley (or coombe) consisting of chalk heath grassland, scrub, and mixed oak and ash woodland. This mosaic of habitats is important for insects and birds, including 39 species of butterflies, such as the chalk hill blue, holly blue and brimstone. Breeding birds at Kingley Vale include the nightingale, grasshopper warbler, blackcap, marsh tit and green woodpecker. Buzzards are often seen with other birds of prey including kestrel, sparrowhawk, red kite and tawny owl, and hobby in summer. Mammals found on the reserve include rabbits, roe deer, large herds of fallow deer, stoats, weasels, foxes, dormice, yellow-necked mice, badgers and bats. In addition to the chalk-loving plants like bird’s foot trefoil, kidney vetch and fairy flax, there are 11 different species of orchid at the reserve including bee, common spotted, frog and fly orchids.

Location

Woodend

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.

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Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve

Woodend

0300 060 6000

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Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve

Recommended by

Overview

Kingley Vale NNR is best known for its twisted and ancient yews and includes a grove of veteran trees some of which may be among the oldest living things in Britain. The reserve is in a steep-sided dry valley (or coombe) consisting of chalk heath grassland, scrub, and mixed oak and ash woodland. This mosaic of habitats is important for insects and birds, including 39 species of butterflies, such as the chalk hill blue, holly blue and brimstone. Breeding birds at Kingley Vale include the nightingale, grasshopper warbler, blackcap, marsh tit and green woodpecker. Buzzards are often seen with other birds of prey including kestrel, sparrowhawk, red kite and tawny owl, and hobby in summer. Mammals found on the reserve include rabbits, roe deer, large herds of fallow deer, stoats, weasels, foxes, dormice, yellow-necked mice, badgers and bats. In addition to the chalk-loving plants like bird’s foot trefoil, kidney vetch and fairy flax, there are 11 different species of orchid at the reserve including bee, common spotted, frog and fly orchids.

Location

Woodend

About the area

Area image

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.

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