Leechpool and Owlbeech woods
Signposted walking trails criss-cross the beautiful woodland and heathland
Leechpool Woods is a site of ancient woodland. There are five signposted walking trails that cover different habitats, including a sculpture trail. Owlbeech Woods is restored heathland that supports a rare selection of flora and fauna. The combined woods cover 109 acres. Admission to both sites is free and they are open all year round.
A walk around Leechpool and Owlbeech Woods
Take a walk with us around Leechpool and Owlbeech Woods in our video below.
Parking
Leechpool Woods car park is off Harwood Road and is free. Free parking is also available next to South Holmes Play Area.
Middle Heath Enclosure - Closure from 1 February 2023
Please be aware that revised changes to access at Middle Heath come into effect on 1 February 2023.
From this date the enclosure will be closed to public access and will not reopen. Previously this area was closed between April and September but open to the public in the winter months.
This decision has been taken as Heathland is an important habitat and Middle Heath is now attracting rare birds such as Woodlark, Dartford Warbler and Woodcock.
Closing Middle Heath in February will allow these ground nesting birds to establish their breeding territories.
It will remain permanently closed to protect the area and its wildlife from further disturbance.
Access across the rest of Leechpool and Owlbeech Woods remains unchanged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Heathland is a sensitive and nationally important habitat. The restoration of Middle Heath has meant that it is now attracting rare and legally protected species, such as Dartford Warbler, Woodlark, Cuckoo and Nightjar.
It has been decided that the enclosure should be closed earlier in the year to minimise disturbance to the ground nesting birds as they try to establish nesting territories.
The decision has also been taken to close this area permanently to protect the heathland from further impacts. These include the creation of new paths and ongoing disturbance to wildlife trying to feed or rest on the Heath. Sadly this has included several dog attacks on deer and livestock in the past year.
Owlbeech Woods has been owned by Horsham District Council since 1989 and was previously owned and managed by The Forestry Commission. Since this time access around the woods has been improved through the installation and maintenance of a network surfaced paths and boardwalks. Over the past 20 years significant work has been done to restore the heathland habitat.
We appreciate that access to public open space is important, but as landowners the Council also have an obligation to protect natural habitats and enable wildlife to flourish. Heathland is an internationally rare habitat and many of the rare birds that live on Middle Heath have legal protection.
Access to the rest of the Leechpool and Owlbeech Woods remains unchanged. The overall site spans almost 50 acres with a network of established paths and off track areas to explore.
In the past 12 months, two of the Council’s sheep have had to be put down following separate dog attacks.
We have had a number of reports from both staff and members of the public of dogs chasing and/or killing deer within this compartment, and elsewhere on site.
We know that the majority of dog owners are responsible and keep good control of their animals, but sadly this is not always the case. There has only been seasonal access to this compartment for a number of years because of the sensitivity of the site.
The increasing environmental value of the site means we have taken a management decision to protect the wildlife in the enclosure.
Access across the rest of Leechpool and Owlbeech Woods remains unchanged.
We are considering options but do not yet have a suitable site.
Grazing Animals
As part of our on-going land management strategy, please be aware that grazing animals are used in Owlbeech Woods. These include cattle, sheep and domestic horses. They help to create and maintain the woodland and heathland habitats and the complexity of diverse scrubby ecotones between.
We would ask all our visitors not to feed or touch these animals.
In the event of an emergency or animal welfare issue, please contact 01403 256890 (office hours) or 01403 215100 (out of hours).
Volunteer at Leechpool woods
Horsham Green Gym is a nature conservation group run by volunteers with support from Horsham District Council. The groups meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at parks and open spaces around the district, including Leechpool and Owlbeech woods.
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