RSPB - giving nature a home
Search
Close
Skip to content
Shop | Community
Log in | Sign up
  • About the RSPB
      About us
    • Our history
    • Our mission
    • How the RSPB is run
    • RSPB Media Centre
    • RSPB job vacancies
    • At home & abroad
    • International
    • England
    • Northern Ireland
    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • Get in touch
    • Contact us
    • RSPB offices
    • Connect with us your way
      Our activities
    • Gardening for wildlife

      Gardening for wildlife

      See our ideas to keep you connected to nature during coronavirus

    • Connect with us your way

      Connect with us your way

      From our regular emails to your favourite social media, there’s more than one way to keep in touch with nature

    • Martin Harper Blog

      Martin Harper Blog

  • Our work
      Nature conservation
    • Conservation and sustainability
    • Projects
    • Landscape scale conservation
    • Centre for Conservation Science
    • Satellite tracking birds
    • RSPB News
    • RSPB News
    • 'Our work' blog
    • Our positions and casework
    • Our positions
    • Casework
    • State of Nature report
      Featured news
    • Mindful mornings

      Mindful mornings

      If you can’t get outside, why not bring the outside in by downloading our bird song radio app?

    • How nature can help protect our homes

      How nature can help protect our homes

      Following the floods this winter, watch how one area is using nature as a natural protector.

    • Casework

      Casework

      Catch up with the RSPB’s own nature detectives on the case as they look to save some very special places.

  • Birds & wildlife
      Wildlife guides
    • Identify a bird
    • Bird A-Z
    • Other garden wildlife
    • Guide to birdwatching
    • UK conservation status explained
    • Nature's Calendar
    • Nature's Home magazine
    • About Nature's Home magazine
    • Birds and wildlife articles
    • RSPB Podcasts
    • Nature's Home blog
    • Advice
    • How you can help birds
    • Gardening for wildlife
    • Ask an expert
    • Wildlife and the law
    • How to report crimes against wild birds
    • Bird songs
    • Which bird song is that?
    • Most popular bird guides this month
    • Which bird song is that?

      Which bird song is that?

      Find out how to identify a bird just from the sound of its singing with our bird song identifier playlist.

    • Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird

      Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird

      Read more advice about what to do if you find a bird that needs help

    • In for a duck

      In for a duck

      It’s nesting season for our waterfowl too but what are the rules you need to follow for ducks, geese or swans?

  • Get involved
      Activities
    • Big Garden Birdwatch
    • Nature on Your Doorstep
    • RSPB Competitions
    • Dolphinwatch
    • Community & advice
    • Join our local groups
    • How green are you?
    • RSPB Community
    • Get involved blog
    • Volunteering & fundraising
    • Volunteer
    • Fundraise
    • Help nature thrive as a corporate partner
    • Our grant funders
    • Campaigning
    • Revive our World in Scotland
    • Revive our World in Wales
    • Revive our World in England
    • Revive our World in Northern Ireland
    • Climate change effects on nature and wildlife
    • Protecting wildlife sites
    • Campaign with us
    • Five actions to Revive Our World
    • Let nature sing
    • OxCam Arc
    • Your Actions for Nature
    • Top activities to do
    • Nature on Your Doorstep

      Nature on Your Doorstep

      Great ideas on how your garden, or even a small backyard or balcony, can become a mini nature reserve

    • How green are you?

      How green are you?

      See some of the ways you can get into green living.

    • Campaigning

      Campaigning

      See our toolkit for ways to campaign with us to protect nature and save wildlife.

  • Reserves & events
      Reserves A-Z Events, dates & inspiration
    • Events
    • COVID-19 information
    • Dates with nature
    • Places to visit blog
    • #ThanksToYou
    • Find a reserve
      Top reserve this month
    • Marshside

      Marshside

      This fantastic wetland site is located north of Southport town centre and has some of the best wildlife in the region.

    • Lytchett Fields

      Lytchett Fields

      The reserve has seen more than thirty species of wading birds.

    • Arne

      Arne

      Heathland home to more than 2565 species.

  • Fun & Learning
      For teachers
    • Supporting resources
    • Wild Challenge
    • School outreach visits
    • Big Schools Birdwatch
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • School trip ideas
    • For families
    • Big Wild Sleepout
    • Wild Challenge
    • Nature reserves for families
    • For kids
    • Fun factoids for all the family
    • Games and activities
    • Kids stories
    • RSPB kids competitions
    • Latest kids' activities
    • Wild Challenge

      Wild Challenge

      Nature is an adventure waiting to be had. Get out, get busy and get wild!

    • Fun factoids for all the family

      Fun factoids for all the family

      Find out more about the nature and wildlife outside your window.

    • Youth membership

      Youth membership

      As well as a free gift and magazines, you’ll get loads of ideas for activities to try at home.

  • Join & Donate
      Join us
    • Choose a membership
    • Family membership
    • Youth membership
    • Gift membership
    • Discover RSPB Life Fellowships
    • Renew your membership
    • Our 2020 film
    • Donate
    • Our appeals
    • Make a one-off donation
    • Make a regular donation
    • Memorial donations
    • Plant a memorial tree
    • In memoriam booklet download form
    • Thank you
    • Leave a gift in your Will
    • Other people's gifts
    • Legacy donation FAQs
    • Legacy administration
    • Legacy booklet download form
    • Other ways to help
    • Gift Aid
    • Support us when you shop
    • RSPB Images
    • RSPB second-hand binocular scheme
    • Win with the RSPB
    • Payroll Giving
    • Stamp out albatross deaths
  • Login to your account Sign up for an RSPB account
  • Shop
  • Community
  • Home
  • Reserves & events
  • Reserves A-Z
  • Broadwater Warren

Broadwater Warren

We’re delighted to be open for visitors. See full facility details below. When visiting us please follow current Government guidance around travel, face coverings, social distancing, group sizes, hygiene and follow all signage on-site. See our Covid-19 updates page for the latest safety information (link below). 
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
Address
RSPB Broadwater Warren, Broadwater Forest Ln, Tunbridge Wells TN3
Grid ref
TQ554372
What3Words
eventful.spill.soup
See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

Set in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near to Royal Tunbridge Wells, there have been some big changes at Broadwater Warren. Threatened bird species like woodlark and nightjar have returned to nest amongst the mix of heathland and woodland along with adders, bumblebees and butterflies.

Plan your visit

Opening times

Open from 9am (Tuesday 10am) - 7pm or dusk, whichever is earlier.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free
Children
Free
Car park cost

Free

Facilities

  • Car park
  • Guided walks
  • Viewing point
  • Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

The nearest mainline station is Eridge on the London Victoria-Uckfield line. From the station, walk north-east along Eridge Road. After 1.2 miles (1.9 km), turn right down Park Corner Lane and at the end of Park Corner Lane turn right along Broadwater Forest Lane. After 0.2 miles (0.3 km) on the right there is a gate into the reserve.

By bus

The Arriva service 228/229 between Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough and the Brighton and Hove service 28/29/29A/29B between Tunbridge Wells and Brighton both stop on the A26 close to the reserve. The safest stops are at Eridge Green from where you can walk down Warren Farm Lane (next to Eridge Church) to the Sussex Wildlife Trust Eridge Rocks Nature Reserve and then through Eridge Rocks north into Broadwater Warren.

By bike

The Forest Way, part of the Downs and Weald Cycle Route (National Route 21), follows the route of an old railway line from East Grinstead to Groombridge. It is about 2 and a half miles from the end of Forest.

By road

From Tunbridge Wells, take the A26 south towards Crowborough. After 2.1 miles (3.4 km), turn right into Broadwater Forest Lane. Continue along Broadwater Forest Lane for 0.8 miles (1.3 km.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Get directions from Google Maps
View on What3Words
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Information for dog owners

Please keep your dog on a lead during the breeding season of 1 February and 30 September and under close control all year round. Do keep your dog on the main tracks. Keep tight control of your dog when in the car park. Please always clean up after your dog and use the bins at the main entrances. As well as being vastly unpleasant, dog waste increases nutrients in the soil, affecting the rare plant life that makes the nature reserve so special.

If you somehow lose your dog, retrace your steps, talk to visitors, leave us your phone number. If you find a lost dog and cannot trace the owner, contact Animal Wardens Ltd on 0845 2417253.

 

What will the weather be like?

14 degrees, Sunny day

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 802kb.

RSPB Broadwater Warren trail guide

Contact Broadwater Warren

  • RSPB Broadwater Warren, Broadwater Forest Ln, Tunbridge Wells TN3
  • broadwater.warren@rspb.org.uk
  • 01892 752430

What will you see?

Our star species

    Goldcrest adult

    Goldcrest

    Listen carefully to hear the high-pitched, wheezing sound of our smallest bird, the goldcrest.

    Marsh tit

    Marsh tit

    Less colourful than other members of the tit family, marsh tits can often be seen foraging for food.

    Nightjar male illustration

    Nightjar

    Linger until dusk to encounter this amazing bird between May and July.

    Woodlark illustration

    Woodlark

    The woodlark is at home in a habitat of heathland and open spaces dotted with trees.

    Tree Pipit

    Tree pipit

    Rather shy and difficult to approach, the tree pipit is very similar to a meadow pipit in appearance

Recent sightings

Goldcrest in tree

Find out about recent wildlife sightings at Broadwater Warren.

read more

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

Spring sees the return of the migrants that breed in Broadwater Warren. These include nightjars, chiffchaffs, whitethroats, tree pipits and blackcaps. Listen out for the 'drumming' of great spotted woodpeckers or lesser spotted woodpeckers in the woodlands and the melodic song of the woodlark on the heath.

Warblers and yellowhammers will be in full song. Dragonflies and grey wagtails can be seen at the decoy pond and adders will be dozing in patches of sunlight. If you are lucky you might spot a white admiral butterfly nectaring on honeysuckle flowers.

Migrating birds are leaving for warmer climes but the wood ants are still active and you might see the holes in their nests where green woodpeckers have been feeding. There are fungi of all shapes and sizes throughout the reserve - a particularly interesting species is the green elfcup, which colours dead wood an amazing emerald green.

Look out for crossbills feeding on the pine cones and alder seeds and flying over in a flock making distinctive 'chip, chip' calls. This is the best time to see lesser redpolls, siskins and mixed flocks of tits feeding in the silver birches and alders.

About Broadwater Warren

Habitat

Heathland and woodland restoration is returning Broadwater to its historic habitat of centuries ago, a wildlife-rich mosaic of heathland and native woodland with scrubby woodland margins, scattered stands of pines and rare woodland mire. 

Threatened bird species like woodlark and nightjar have returned to the site, along with adders, bumblebees and butterflies, and new views across the landscape have been opened up. The pond is now a haven for dragonflies and frogs, visited by a kingfisher and heron. The woodlands are being managed for vulnerable species like marsh tit and dormouse.

Conservation

The 10-year project to restore the area back to heathland started in 2007. The first step towards restoration of the heathland from conifer plantation involved removing dense young conifer trees and harvesting some of the mature pine and spruce. Until 2017, each winter, selected areas of conifer plantation were removed in a carefully planned schedule, to limit the impact on wildlife. 

Bees, butterflies and other insects have come back in earnest and track edges are now blossoming with wildflowers like purple self-heal, common centaury and tormentil. Woodlark returned to the site in 2012 and bred for the first time in nine years. Since the project started our heathland birds - woodlark, tree pipit and nightjar have all increased in number. Dartford warblers have been seen over the last few winters and the hope is that it wont be long till they call Broadwater Warren home.

The restoration of the Decoy Pond was completed in 2014 and has transformed the area from a dark and gloomy damp spot to a hive of activity and beauty. The removal of oppressive conifers and coppicing of birch and alder around the edge has opened up the water to more light and warmth. The ponds across the reserve are now home to an amazing 22 different species of dragonfly and damselfy, including heathland specialists such as black darter.

By the end of the ten-year project in 2017, Broadwater is now roughly half heathland and half woodland. The woodland is a mix of native broadleaved trees, with areas of coppice and interspersed pines. 

Open glades and sunny rides are now starting to create nectar rich corridors, full of flowers and butterflies. Areas of wet woodland and large oaks provide homes for lesser spotted woodpecker and marsh tit, while the dense scrubby understorey will host rare dormice and song thrushes.

Partners

RSPB Broadwater Warren has developed into a fantastic home for nature, helped by the tremendous support of many individuals, groups and organisations. In addition to RSPB members and supporters, local community members and a tireless team of volunteers, we would particularly like to thank the following organisations for their financial support:

  • AXA PPP
  • Biffa Award through the Landfill Community Fund
  • The Chalk Cliff Trust
  • Cory Environmental Trust in Britain  through the Landfill Community Fund
  • English Heritage
  • Forestry Commission via English Woodland Grant Scheme (EU and Defra funding)
  • GEAR
  • GrantScape through the Landfill Community Fund
  • Gurney Charitable Trust
  • Heritage Lottery Fund
  • High Weald AONB Unit Sustainable Development Fund
  • Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust through the Landfill Community Fund
  • Natural England through Defra
  • RG Group
  • Royal Bank of Scotland
  • SITA Trust through the Landfill Community Fund
  • Sussex Ornithological Society
  • Veolia Environmental Trust through the Landfill Community Fund
  • Weald Forest Ridge Partnership Scheme
  • Wealden and Rother Renewal - Leader +
Biffa Awards
Landfill Community Fund
GrantScape
Enovert Community Trust
Heritage Lottery Fund
Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust
SITA Trust
Sussex Ornithological Society
Veolia Environmental Trust

Site information

Broadwater Warren is set in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near to Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Latest forum posts

read our forum

Share this

  • Facebook Facebook Created with Sketch.
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

You might also be interested in

Bluebells at Tudeley Woods

Tudeley Woods

This ancient, semi-natural mixed woodland has been coppiced in part to create new wildlife habitats.
RSPB Giving Nature a Home Campaign

Birds without Borders

Breeding populations of long-distance, trans-Saharan migrant birds have declined sharply since the 1970s.
RSPB Giving Nature a Home Campaign

Join us - legacy

Become an RSPB member by signing up here.

We spend 90% of net income on conservation, public education and advocacy

Quick links

  • Contact us
  • Online Community
  • Vacancies
  • Media centre

Information for

  • Teachers
  • Policy makers
  • Farmers & landowners
  • Scientists

Our work in

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Wales
  • Northern Ireland
  • International

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Partnering with

BirdLife_logo

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International. Find out more about the partnership

Fundraising Regulator logo OSCR logo

© The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654

  • Terms & conditions
  • Cookie policy
  • Privacy policy
  • Charter and statutes
  • About our site
  • Modern Slavery Act

Cookie Preferences

Accepting all non-essential cookies helps us to personalise your experience

Edit settings
Accept all

Essential cookies are required

These cookies are required for basic web functions

Enable analytics cookies

Allow us to collect anonymised performance data

Enable marketing cookies

Allow us to personalise your experience

Save settings
Read our cookie policy