Local nature reserves (LNRs) are designated by local authorities under theNational Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The local authority must have a legal control over the site, by owning or leasing it or having an agreement with the owner. LNRs are sites which have a special local interest either biologically or geologically, and local authorities have a duty to care for them. They can apply localbye-laws to manage and protect LNRs.[1][2]
As of March 2019, there are twenty-seven LNRs inWest Sussex.[3] Nine areSites of Special Scientific Interest, six areNature Conservation Review sites, four areRamsar sites, two areSpecial Areas of Conservation, four areSpecial Protection Areas, one includes ascheduled monument and two are managed by theSussex Wildlife Trust.
West Sussex is in south-east England and it has a population of approximately 780,000.[4] The county town isChichester. In the north of the county are the heavy clays and sands of theWeald. The chalk of theSouth Downs runs across the centre from east to west and in the south a coastal plain runs down to theEnglish Channel.[5]
Public access[edit]
| Other classifications[edit]
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| Site | Photograph | Area[a] | Location[b] | Borough | Other classifications | Map[c] | Details[d] | Access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardingly Reservoir |  | 74.5 hectares (184 acres) | Haywards Heath 51°02′56″N0°06′18″W / 51.049°N 0.105°W /51.049; -0.105 (Ardingly Reservoir) TQ 329 294 | Mid Sussex | Map | Details | Yes | The reservoir has open water, hay meadow, deciduous woodland, hazel coppice, reedbeds and wetland. There are sandstone outcrops which support uncommon ferns, mosses, liverworts and lichens. Nesting birds includegreat crested grebes andkingfishers.[7] | |
| Ashenground and Bolnore Woods | .jpg) | 14.4 hectares (36 acres) | Haywards Heath 50°59′24″N0°06′58″W / 50.990°N 0.116°W /50.990; -0.116 (Ashenground and Bolnore Woods) TQ 323 229 | Mid Sussex | Map | Details | Yes | These woods haveoak,beech andfield maple, together with old coppicehornbeam,ash andhazel. Fauna include bats, woodpeckers and owls.[8] | |
| Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve |  | 36.2 hectares (89 acres) | Burgess Hill 50°58′19″N0°07′23″W / 50.972°N 0.123°W /50.972; -0.123 (Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve) TQ 319 208 | Mid Sussex | Map | Details | Yes | The farm has woodland, wildflower meadows, grazed meadows, wetland and ancient hedgerows. The woodland has ancienthornbeams andwild service trees, while wildflowers include theyellow rattle.[9] | |
| Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow | .jpg) | 28.9 hectares (71 acres) | Haywards Heath 51°00′14″N0°07′26″W / 51.004°N 0.124°W /51.004; -0.124 (Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow) TQ 317 244 | Mid Sussex | Map | Details | Yes | This site has diverse habitats with a pond, wetland, hedgerows, grassland, birch woodland, hazel coppice, mixed coppice and bluebell woodland.[10] | |
| Brandy Hole Copse |  | 6.5 hectares (16 acres) | Chichester 50°51′07″N0°47′28″W / 50.852°N 0.791°W /50.852; -0.791 (Brandy Hole Copse) SU 852 065 | Chichester | SM[11] | Map | Details | Yes | This site has broadleaved and coniferous woodland, open water, marshland, heath, tall fern and herbs. Fauna includespipistrelle bats.[12] |
| The Brooks Local Nature Reserve | .jpg) | 19.1 hectares (47 acres) | Bognor Regis 50°48′18″N0°40′34″W / 50.805°N 0.676°W /50.805; -0.676 (The Brooks (Bersted Brooks)) SU 934 014 | Arun | Map | Details | Yes | The Brooks has extensive grassland, reedbeds, ponds and newly planted woodland. One area has been turned into a dog-free wildlife sanctuary for ground-nesting birds. The site is flooded every winter, which makes it a good habitat for wetland flora and fauna.[13] | |
| Burton and Chingford Ponds |  | 63.0 hectares (156 acres) | Petworth 50°56′56″N0°36′43″W / 50.949°N 0.612°W /50.949; -0.612 (Burton and Chingford Ponds) SU 976 175 | Chichester | SSSI[14]SWT[15] | Map | Details | Yes | This site has ponds,carr woodland, bog, wet heath and marshy grassland. There is a diverse range of invertebrates including three nationally rare species, the snailOmphiscola glabra and the cranefliesErioptera meijerei andTipula marginata. The site is also important for its breeding water birds, such aswater rails andgreat crested grebes.[16] |
| Eames Farm | .jpg) | 132.5 hectares (327 acres) | Southbourne 50°49′59″N0°55′34″W / 50.833°N 0.926°W /50.833; -0.926 (Eames Farm) SU 757 043 | Chichester | NCR[17]Ramsar[18]SPA[19]SSSI[20] | Map | Details | No | This area of grazing marsh, wetland and reedbed is managed as an organic farm. It has many rare plants and insects and a diverse variety of migrating waders and wildfowl.[21] |
| Eastern Road Nature Reserve | .jpg) | 3.5 hectares (8.6 acres) | Haywards Heath 51°00′36″N0°04′23″W / 51.010°N 0.073°W /51.010; -0.073 (Eastern Road Nature Reserve) TQ 353 252 | Mid Sussex | Map | Details | Yes | The reserve has rough grassland, wetland, woodland and scrub. There are aquatic insects such as dragonflies and other invertebrates include frogs and newts.[22] | |
| Fairmile Bottom |  | 61.3 hectares (151 acres) | Arundel 50°52′34″N0°35′46″W / 50.876°N 0.596°W /50.876; -0.596 (Fairmile Bottom) SU 989 094 | Arun | SSSI[23] | Map | Details | Yes | This site has wildflower meadows on chalk and woodland with groves ofyew trees. There is an outstanding variety of beetles and many moths and butterflies.[24] |
| Grattons Park | .jpg) | 7.7 hectares (19 acres) | Crawley 51°07′37″N0°09′32″W / 51.127°N 0.159°W /51.127; -0.159 (Grattons Park) TQ 289 380 | Crawley | Map | Details | Yes | Gatwick Stream runs through this park and other habitats are broadleaved woodland and grassland. Flora includelesser celandine andwild daffodils, while there are birds such astreecreepers,great spotted woodpecker andlong-tailed tits.[25] | |
| Harting Down |  | 206.6 hectares (511 acres) | Harting 50°57′22″N0°51′50″W / 50.956°N 0.864°W /50.956; -0.864 (Harting Down) SU 799 180 | Chichester | NCR[26]SSSI[27] | Map | Details | Yes | This sloping site on theSouth Downs has grassland with scattered woodland and scrub. There aregrizzled skipper butterflies,blue carpenter bees andcheese snails.[28] |
| Iping Common (Stedham with Iping) |  | 118.2 hectares (292 acres) | Midhurst 50°59′24″N0°47′31″W / 50.990°N 0.792°W /50.990; -0.792 (Iping Common) SU 849 219 | Chichester | NCR[29]SSSI[30]SWT[31] | Map | Details | Yes | This is described byNatural England as one of the richest areas of heath in the county. Most of it is dry but there are also areas of wet heath, two ponds, woodland, scrub and grassland. It has a rich invertebrate fauna and breeding heathland birds includenightjars andstonechats.[32] |
| Lancing Ring |  | 29.4 hectares (73 acres) | Lancing 50°50′35″N0°19′23″W / 50.843°N 0.323°W /50.843; -0.323 (Lancing Ring) TQ 182 062 | Adur | Map | Details | Yes | This chalk grassland site hasadders andlizards. There is also woodland with flowers includingearly purple orchids anddewponds which have manynewts.[33] | |
| Lynchmere Commons |  | 122.0 hectares (301 acres) | Linchmere 51°04′19″N0°46′05″W / 51.072°N 0.768°W /51.072; -0.768 (Lynchmere Commons) SU 864 310 | Chichester | Map | Details | Yes | This heathland site is composed of Stanley, Lynchmere and Marley Commons. They have diverse insect species and unusual plants such asbilberries.[34] | |
| Mill Hill |  | 13.5 hectares (33 acres) | Shoreham-by-Sea 50°51′11″N0°16′52″W / 50.853°N 0.281°W /50.853; -0.281 (Mill Hill) TQ 211 073 | Adur | Map | Details | Yes | This site has chalk grassland, scrub and secondary woodland. It is one of the best areas in Sussex for butterflies, with 29 species recorded, including theAdonis blue. More than 160 species of flowering plant have been recorded, such ashorseshoe vetch.[35] | |
| Nutborne Marshes |  | 386.9 hectares (956 acres) | Thorney Island 50°49′19″N0°54′00″W / 50.822°N 0.900°W /50.822; -0.900 (Nutborne Marshes) SU 776 031 | Chichester | NCR[17]Ramsar[36]SAC[37]SPA[38]SSSI[39] | Map | Details | No | This is an area of intertidal and subtidal saltmarsh and mudflats. There are many invertebrates on the mudflats such asragworms and the banks have unusual plants includingsea wormwood. Migrating birds includecurlews,grey plovers anddunlins.[40] |
| Pagham Harbour |  | 599.1 hectares (1,480 acres) | Bognor Regis 50°45′58″N0°45′58″W / 50.766°N 0.766°W /50.766; -0.766 (Pagham Harbour) SZ 871 970 | Arun | NCR[41]Ramsar[42]SPA[43]SSSI[41] | Map | Details | PP | This is a large area of salt marsh, mud flats, shingle, open water, reed swamp and wet grassland. It is of national importance for breeding birds and wintering wildfowl and waders. It also has nationally important communities of plants and invertebrates, including the nationally endangered sea anemoneNematostella vectensis.[44] |
| Pilsey Island |  | 17.8 hectares (44 acres) | Thorney Island 50°48′04″N0°54′32″W / 50.801°N 0.909°W /50.801; -0.909 (Pilsey Island) SU 770 007 | Chichester | NCR[17]Ramsar[36]SAC[37]SPA[38]SSSI[39] | Map | Details | No | The island has sand dunes, mudflats, salt marsh and bare and vegetated shingle. There are many plants, spiders and insects.[45] |
| Scrase Valley | .jpg) | 8.0 hectares (20 acres) | Haywards Heath 51°00′14″N0°05′10″W / 51.004°N 0.086°W /51.004; -0.086 (Scrase Valley) TQ 344 245 | Mid Sussex | Map | Details | Yes | This site has grassland, woodland and marsh. There are a number of unusual plants, such aspurple toothwort,marsh cinquefoil,meadow thistle andmarsh speedwell. The Friends of The Scrase Valley have planted threeblack poplar trees, which is a nationally rare species.[46] | |
| Shoreham Beach |  | 26.2 hectares (65 acres) | Shoreham-by-Sea 50°49′34″N0°16′16″W / 50.826°N 0.271°W /50.826; -0.271 (Shoreham Beach) TQ 219 044 | Adur | Map | Details | Yes | The beach has vegetated shingle, which is an internationally rare habitat, with flora includingyellow horned poppy,sea kale andcurled dock.[47] | |
| Target Hill Park | .jpg) | 9.0 hectares (22 acres) | Crawley 51°05′49″N0°13′05″W / 51.097°N 0.218°W /51.097; -0.218 (Target Hill Park) TQ 249 346 | Crawley | Map | Details | Yes | The diverse habitats in this park include ponds, wetlands, woodlands, meadows and scrub. There are reptiles such asslow-worms,adders andcommon lizards, while butterflies includeskippers,meadow brown,small heaths andringlets.[48] | |
| Tilgate Forest |  | 6.9 hectares (17 acres) | Crawley 51°06′07″N0°09′47″W / 51.102°N 0.163°W /51.102; -0.163 (Tilgate Forest) TQ 287 352 | Crawley | Map | Details | Yes | This site has woods, tall herb and fern, and heathland. The most common trees in areas of natural woodland arebirch,oak andhazel, while plantations are mainlyScots pine,red oak,western hemlock andbeech.[49] | |
| Tottington Wood | .jpg) | 5.1 hectares (13 acres) | Henfield 50°54′00″N0°16′19″W / 50.900°N 0.272°W /50.900; -0.272 (Tottington Wood) TQ 216 126 | Horsham | Map | Details | Yes | This semi-ancient wood is recorded back to 1600 and it has an oak tree which is over 250 years old. Mammals includeroe deer and bats and there are birds such aswoodpeckers andblue tits.[50] | |
| Warnham |  | 38.4 hectares (95 acres) | Horsham 51°04′55″N0°19′48″W / 51.082°N 0.330°W /51.082; -0.330 (Warnha) TQ 171 327 | Horsham | Map | Details | Yes | The principal feature of the site is the 7-hectare (17-acre) Warnham Millpond, together with its islands and marginal vegetation. Boldings Brook runs through the site and in the winter it floods areas of wet grassland and willowcarr. Invertebrates include 523 species of moths and 366 plant species have been recorded.[51] | |
| West Beach |  | 15.7 hectares (39 acres) | Littlehampton 50°46′48″N0°32′49″W / 50.780°N 0.547°W /50.780; -0.547 (West Beach) TQ 025 010 | Arun | SSSI[52] | Map | Details | Yes | This stretch of shoreline has sand dunes at the back with a vegetated shingle beach, which is a nationally uncommon habitat, in front. The intertidal zone has soft muds and sands with many invertebrates, which are an important source of food for wintering birds, especiallysanderling.[53] |
| Widewater Lagoon |  | 8.8 hectares (22 acres) | Lancing 50°49′26″N0°17′56″W / 50.824°N 0.299°W /50.824; -0.299 (Widewater Lagoon) TQ 199 041 | Adur | Map | Details | Yes | This coastal lagoon is separated from Lancing Beach by a man-made shingle bank. The water is brackish and there are wildfowl such asherons andswans.[54] |
