WARNHAM LOCAL NATURE RESERVE

Warnham Nature Reserve

Warnham Road
Horsham, West Sussex. RH12 2RA
Tel: (01403) 256890
Email: leisure@horsham.gov.uk
www.horshamdistrictcountryside.org/

Location: North West of Horsham on the B2237 (just off the A24). The reserve is 20-30 minutes walk from Horsham Town Centre.
Open: All year, seven days a week. 10am - 5.30pm or dusk - whichever is earliest

Admission:
Access to the Visitor Centre is free. However a low-cost day permit, currently just £1 per adult (admission for children is FREE) allows access to the whole reserve, including 2 bird hides, a feeding station, the Millpond Nature Trail and two extensive boardwalks. Annual permits are also available from the Visitor Centre, currently at £5 for Horsham District residents and £10 for non-Horsham District residents. Sorry, NO DOGS are allowed on site.

Description: The 92 acre site was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1988. It includes a 17 acre (6.9 ha) millpond, marshes, grassland, reedbeds, hedges and woodlands. The site provides a haven for a variety of wildlife, being known to having recorded over 400 species of plants, from Common Birdsfoot Trefoil to Orchids and ancient Oaks, and over 100 species of bird, including a thriving Heronry, wildfowl, woodpeckers and the rare Cetti's Warbler. The beautiful Kingfisher makes the most of the waters and are regularly seen from the birdhides. The Reserve is also rich in dragonfly - over 21 species have been recorded - which take advantage of the different wetland habitats.

Facilities: Ample free parking. Disabled access toilets with baby changing facilities. Picnic facilities close to the Visitor Centre. Two bird hides, a bird feeding station and the Millpond Nature Trail.

Visitor Centre and Cafe: The Visitor Centre houses displays and information including a living beehive. The small Tanhouse Warnham cafe is open every day and offers superb light refreshments.

Education: School parties can make hands-on educational visits to the Reserve, which can be tailored to suit the needs of the school and will be led by the wardens.

Events and Countryside Activities: A full programme of activities is available throughout the year for both children and adults at Warnham Local Nature Reserve. Contact the Reserve for a full programme or Contact the Country Park for a full programme or click on Countryside Events for details of the Summer programme.

Warnham Local Nature Reserve Draft Management Plan 2008-2014
A draft Management Plan has been prepared for consultation. The Plan aims to set out and explain the future management of Horsham District Council's countryside site, Warnham Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and will cover the period up to March 2014. The Plan explains that the aim of the future management of the site is to provide a balance between the following factors:

  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Amenity Value
  • Health and Safety
  • Education and Community Involvement. 

Your views on this Draft Management Plan are now being sought.  Please click on the pdf attachment at the bottom of this page for full details. If you would like to make any comments or suggestions regarding the Management Plan, please email stephen.delahunt@horsham.gov.uk or write to Steve Delahunt, Leisure Services, Park House Lodge, North Street, Horsham, RH12 1RL.  All comments received before 21st Novemebr 2008 will be considered in the production of the final Plan.  If you cannot access the attached document please email or telephone 01403 731218.

Friends of Warnham Local Nature Reserve: A Friends group is now established whose objectives are to foster and promote an appreciation of the reserve at all levels, to raise funds and to provide lectures, learning opportunities and social activities for the members. A newsletter is produced quarterly. Visit their website for a beautiful photographic overview of the flora and fauna seen at the Reserve as well as details of events and other activities organised by the Friends group. For further details of Membership please contact: Friends of WLNR, 61 Crawley Road, Horsham , West Sussex. RH12 4DS.

Your Views Count
If you have any comments, concerns or suggestions on how we can improve our services to you across our Parks and Countryside sites, or would like further details about any of the leisure activities made available by Horsham District Council Leisure Services, please contact us on (01403) 215263 or email leisure@horsham.gov.uk We would like to hear from you.

Map of Warnham Nature Reserve

Warnham Local Nature Reserve Draft Management Plan

Warnham Local Nature Reserve Draft Management Plan (1,455kb)
This file is a PDF document and may require the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. You can download this utility by clicking on the left side link.



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