Ashenground and Bolnore Woods Local Nature Reserve is a small area of beautiful ancient woodland in Haywards Heath, lying to the south of the bridleway that runs from Ashenground Road to Bolnore village. This unique habitat has been acquired by Mid-Sussex District Council. The area is popular with local residents and is a valuable wildlife refuge and resource. A friends group, Friends of Ashenground and Bolnore Woods, help care for the woods for the benefit of the whole community.

In 2008 the Woods were formally declared a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) with the approval of Natural England and with the support of Mid Sussex District Council and Sussex Wildlife Trust.  There are permissive paths through all the woods, and a public bridleway immediately to the north.

Brief History

Woodland which is described as 'Ancient' has existed for at least 400 years, and in many cases has formed part of the landscape since the end of the last Ice Age.  It has not always been tree-covered, but has been harvested as a sustainable crop (coppiced), or used for grazing from time to time.  It now covers less than 2% of the U.K.  Such woods have had a long time to acquire species, and form stable ecological communities.  They support a greater variety of plants and animals than most other habitats.  Their ecology is fragile - many woodland species do not easily colonise new areas, and disappear when disturbed.  Ashenground Wood in particular is part of this heritage.

We are still using the old names for individual woods, but sometimes in memory of the woods which have disappeared under the houses on both sides of the railway.  Some fine specimens of oak and hornbeam from these woods remain in the roads and gardens of the built up area.

An ancient bridleway runs from the western end of Ashenground Road to Isaacs Lane.  North of the bridleway are woods and meadows which are also very old - they appear on an estate map of 1638 in almost the same positions.  On this map the bridleway is called 'Halfe Street Lane, the Kings Highway', and was the main thoroughfare between Cuckfield and Lewes.  One of these meadows - 'Four Acre Wood' - was saved from development after a public Inquiry showed it was also Ancient Woodland.   A group of local community organisations which included FoABW played a significant part in this outcome.

A series of ponds follows the line of the bridleway westwards.   These were old quarries, and are now home to a variety of wild life, including the great crested newt, which is a protected species.