Ebernoe Common is a great example of a Low Weald woodland with a long history of traditional use. Wandering around the woods, there is evidence of industrial use over many centuries including a brickworks, ponds, an iron furnace site, clay pits and a small quarry. There are also the remains of several cottages, barely visible now apart from partially hidden foundations or a subtle change of vegetation. Connecting all these features with the surrounding landscape are drove roads and public rights of way.
The long history of management and intervention has created dynamic woodland that is incredibly diverse and contains a great number of opportunities for wildlife. This site is dominated by old wood pasture where Commoners would have turned out their cattle or pigs to graze and browse on young trees and scrub, beech mast and acorns, or on the grassy meadows in glades and clearings.
Wherever you walk, you will see a wide range of trees and shrubs of all ages, utilised by the interesting and often rare species that are found on the reserve. These include nationally scarce lichen, over 1000 species of fungi, important deadwood invertebrates, and 14 of the 17 species of UK breeding bats.
Over 70 bird species have been recorded on site: 45 of those species have been confirmed as breeding here. Owls can be heard all year round whilst the meadows fill with the beautiful song of nightingales and warblers in the summer months.
There’s a good chance that as you’re wandering through the trees and across the glades you may come across one or two of our friendly rare breed cattle. It’s like taking a step back in time to when Commoners would turn out their livestock to graze freely.
With all these amazing habitats in one place it is easy to see why Ebernoe Common is a National Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special area of Conservation.
An Outdooractive map can be found at www.outdooractive.com/en/route/hiking-route/united-kingdom/exploring-ebernoe and a map of Ebernoe Nature Reserve to download and print can be found at:
DISTANCE: 3.5 miles
MAP: Explorer 133 (Haslemere)
START: Park at the car park at Holy Trinity, Ebernoe, Petworth GU28 9LD
