Park Wood, Hellingly
Park Wood covers 60 hectares (148 acres) of ancient, semi-natural woodland on the boundary near Hailsham and Hellingly. It is mainly an oak woodland with some sweet chestnut, hazel and hornbeam. It has a long history of coppice management.
Woodland trail in Park Wood
What you will find
Park Wood is a rich woodland with many species of trees and plantlife.
There are also areas of forest, glades, ghyll woodland and the Hurst Haven stream, running through the central valley. The wood has a very large beech tree and the second-oldest wild cherry tree in the county. Other trees include ash, birch, sycamore, field maple, willow, alder and hawthorn.
The wood is probably at its most spectacular during late spring when the ground is carpeted with wood anemones and lesser celandine, followed by bluebells.
Orchids make their home here, as well as foxglove, enchanter's nightshade and yellow archangel. A wide variety of mammals, birds, insects, reptiles and fungi can be found in the wood including the rare and protected common dormouse.
Adders and slow worms may be seen basking on log piles during warm weather. Greater spotted woodpeckers make use of holes in dead timber, butterflies flit about the glades and up to 60 species of fungi can be seen during autumn.
Walking, cycling and access
The are no designated Rights of Way at Park Wood, but there is a network of paths, including:
- waymarked circular routes of varying lengths
- a short trail suitable for disabled users
- an experimental, mostly surfaced bridleway.
Please keep to the main paths to avoid disturbing wildlife. Paths can get muddy and wet, particularly during winter, so stout footwear is recommended.
Cyclists are welcome to use the wood, provided they keep to the paths. Only those who like a challenge and who don't mind mud should venture in. Access for horse riders is restricted to the experimental bridleway (blue route) between May and September, but this access depends on weather conditions.
Dogs are welcome, but please use the dog bins by the car park and keep dogs under close control, especially between April and September when birds are nesting and breeding. Please keep dogs out of the pond.
How to get there
The map reference for the main car park is TQ593 127.
By train and/or bicycle – the nearest train station is Polegate, 4.5 miles away. From there take the Cuckoo Trail north towards Heathfield. At Hellingly turn right onto Station Road and then first left onto Grove Hill. The entrance to Park Wood is about one mile on the right.
By bus – Stagecoach Hastings bus number 98 and Eastbounre Buses number 53 stop nearby.
On foot - there are two entrances along a minor road between Hailsham and Cowbeech Hill off the A271, and another from the western side of the wood off Grove Hill.
By car - there is a car park for eight cars off the Hailsham to Horam road at Grove Hill on the western side of the wood
History and management
Park Wood has an interesting and varied history. Although coppiced (where trees are cut to ground height to encourage diversity) and replanted several times, it once formed part of the Forest of Anderida which covered much of south east England in Saxon times.
During the 16th century, the wood was a hunting ground for the Pelham family. Remains of old boundaries can still be seen in some areas. During the 17th century, two large dams crossed the stream, creating a lake which may have been used to power a water mill or to keep barges transporting iron down to the Pevensey Levels.
In 1940, the Canadian army used the wood as a dispersal area for some of their vehicles, including Sherman tanks. The site became a no-go area for civilians during this time and over 100 foxholes were dug in case of air raids. The Canadians left the wood in 1944.
In 1951, the East Sussex River Board used the sweet chestnut timber for flood defences. In the mid 1990s the Environment Agency employed our Countryside Management service to manage the site.
The wood is managed to protect and promote wildlife, provide access and an educational resource for the public and to create revenue from the timber.
Volunteering
If you are interested in helping us maintain our countryside sites in East Sussex, you can register to be a volunteer ranger.
Contact us
Contact the Park Wood ranger.
