Fore Wood

We're working hard to make our nature reserves safe and ready for our staff, visitors and wildlife. Many have now re-opened in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, although some facilities are not yet available. Some reserves remain closed for now. See our COVID-19 updates page for the latest information (link below).

Address: RSPB Fore Wood, Fore Wood Lane, Crowhurst, Battle TN33 9AG

Grid ref: TQ752127

See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

This is a glorious and peaceful woodland near Crowhurst, with fascinating 'ghylls' – steep-sided little ravines in the sandstone – where rare ferns grow. In the spring, Fore Wood is a riot of bluebells and wood anemones, with early purple orchids adding to the show.

Plan your visit

Open at all times.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, but donations are welcome.

Children: Free, but donations are welcome.

Facilities

Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

The nearest station is Crowhurst. Follow the lane from the station until it joins the main Forewood Lane. Turn right and pass the village hall, look for the finger post pointing to Fore Wood, on the left-hand side at the first bend. Follow the path 0.5 miles across the fields to the reserve.

By road

The reserve is on the edge of Crowhurst village, 2 miles (3.2 km) south-west of Telham on the A2100. From Telham on the A2100, take the lane heading south-west, signposted Crowhurst, and follow it through the village until you reach the village hall, at the bottom of the hill opposite the church.

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.

Other ways to get there

Leave the car at the village hall, turn right and follow the main road uphill for 200 yards. Look for the finger post pointing to Fore Wood, on the left-hand side at the first bend. Follow the path 0.5 miles across the fields to the reserve.

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

9 degrees, Cloudy

Contact Fore Wood

RSPB Fore Wood, Fore Wood Lane, Crowhurst, Battle TN33 9AG
broadwater.warren@rspb.org.uk
01892 752430

What will you see?

Our star species

Chaffinch

Chaffinches sing from the treetops at Fore Wood in spring, but in winter, they gather in large flocks to search for food.

Great spotted woodpecker

Look and listen for great spotted woodpeckers anywhere on the reserve, they are present in spring.

Marsh tit

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

Nuthatch

Nuthatches are very charismatic residents of Fore Wood.

Redwing

Redwings are winter visitors to Fore Wood, arriving in September from Scandinavia.

The spring carpets of wood anemone and bluebell can be stunning, and will be dotted with early purple orchids. The woodland will be full of the common woodland birds, including nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers, treecreepers and tits.

Fore Wood has good populations of silver-washed fritillary and white admiral butterflies. Early summer, the beautiful demoiselle dragonflies will be flying - watch for their brilliant blue colour and almost black wings.

The woodland colours will be fantastic, whilst the ground will be dotted with many different fungi, including the well-known red and white fly agaric. Mixed flocks of tits and other woodland birds will be evident.

Look out for large flocks of rooks, fieldfares and redwings, the latter often feeding on the forest floor.

About Fore Wood

Habitat

Fore Wood is an ancient woodland comprising of hornbeam and oak high forest, sweet chestnut coppice and mixed coppice.

Conservation

Coppicing - We undertake this traditional woodland management practice for the benefit of the wildlife which calls the reserve home.

Site information

Fore Wood is one of the best places for wildlife in the UK and designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Marshside

Lytchett Fields

Arne

Fore Wood