Broadwater Warren

Address: RSPB Broadwater Warren, Broadwater Forest Ln, Tunbridge Wells TN3

Grid ref: TQ554372

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

Open at all times.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free

Children: Free

Car park cost: Free

Facilities

No visitor centre
Car park
Toilets off-site
Accessible toilets off-site
No Refreshments
Guided walks
Viewing point
Nature trails
Shop off-site

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

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

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.

19 degrees, Partly cloudy (day)

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 4.5Mb.

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

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

Marsh tit

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

Nightjar

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

Woodlark

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

Tree pipit

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

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: