What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 4pm Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

Warnham Local Nature Reserve

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Warnham Local Nature Reserve

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92 acres of beautiful marshes, grasslands and woodlands providing a home to over 3500 species

16/10/2026

The excellent run of moths on the reserve continues, with several notable species added to the autumn tally. Recent highlights have included Autumnal Rustic, Scarce Silver-lines, and the striking L-album Wainscot, all attracted to the moth trap over the past few nights. These records demonstrate just how rewarding autumn moth trapping can be, with a mix of seasonal specialists and less frequently encountered species keeping things interesting. As conditions remain favourable, we're excited to see what other surprises the coming weeks may bring.

11/10/2026

Moth trapping on the reserve since the start of October has been incredibly exciting, with a notable arrival of migrant species taking advantage of favourable weather conditions. Highlights have included the beautiful Vestal, The Gem, Palpita vitrealis, and the scarce Clancy's Rustic, all of which are impressive records for the reserve. These migrants, arriving from continental Europe and beyond, demonstrate the importance of the reserve as a stopover habitat for wildlife. With autumn migration still underway, we look forward to seeing what other remarkable species may yet be attracted to the moth trap in the coming weeks.

08/10/2026

From Friday 9th October, we a contractor on site who will be carrying out maintenance work on the scrapes within Wet Meadow at the north end of the reserve. These works will involve de-silting and re-profiling the scrapes to create valuable feeding habitat for wading birds such as Common Snipe, while also providing ideal egg-laying habitat for a wide range of aquatic invertebrates. By restoring these important wetland features, we can continue to support the rich biodiversity that makes the reserve such a special place. We apologise for the disturbance from Sandpiper Hide but please feel free to go and see what is going on. The works will be completed by Monday 12th October and there is no restriction on access whilst the works are being completed.

07/10/2026

The last week at Warnham has seen plenty of migrant birds moving through the reserve and this has been reflected in the ringing totals. We were greeted by some incredible sunrises as well as trapping over 200 Chiffchaff in the last seven days including one control from elsewhere which we await the details of. Obvious highlights from the week were a male Cetti's Warbler, a stonking Water Rail and a juvenile Lesser Whitethroat which is our latest ever record for the site.

02/10/2026

Winter hay cutting and conservation grazing are now underway at Warnham Local Nature Reserve, marking an important stage in the management of our beautiful wildflower meadows. By removing excess vegetation and reducing soil fertility, these traditional techniques help create the ideal conditions for a rich variety of wildflowers to thrive in the spring and summer. Grazing also helps control vigorous grasses and scrub, increasing plant diversity and benefiting a wide range of insects, birds and other wildlife.

British White cattle are ideal for conservation grazing because they are hardy, traditional livestock that thrive on rough grassland and a varied diet including browsing scrub and Bramble. Their selective grazing creates a mosaic of different vegetation heights, allowing wildflowers to flourish and providing valuable habitat for insects, birds and small mammals. Their relatively light weight also helps reduce soil compaction and damage to sensitive habitats, making them an excellent choice for managing the species-rich meadows at Warnham.

01/10/2026

🍂 Winter opening hours are now in effect 🍂

It may still be feeling warm out there, but from today (Thursday 1 October) we are operating our winter opening hours.

🕙 Opening time: 10.00am
☕ Café closes: 3.00pm
• Last orders for hot drinks: 2.45pm

🚻 The Reserve, car park and toilets all close at 4.00pm.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

22/09/2026

🚫 Herons Rest Café Closure🚫

Please note that Herons Rest Café will be closed all day on Wednesday 23rd September to allow for essential maintenance works.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding. We look forward to welcoming you back when we reopen as normal. ☕🍰

18/09/2026

Horsham Green Gym have had a very busy fortnight with the onset of the autumn jobs list. Rotational cutting of the reedbeds is essential for maintaining a diverse wetland habitat, each autumn we cut a different section of the millpond to ensure they are kept in good condition. Without intervention, reedbeds can become scrubby and dry, reducing structural diversity and wildlife value. Cutting creates a mosaic of young and mature reed, providing ideal nesting and feeding conditions for Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings. The resulting mix of dense cover and open areas also offers important shelter and foraging habitat for Harvest Mice. Thank you to all the volunteers who earnt their biscuits in no uncertain terms this week!

14/09/2026

Discovery Hub Closure

Please be aware that Discovery Hub will be closed to the public this Wednesday (16 September).
The Attree Hide will remain open.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

20/08/2026

We want your views to help shape a greener, more resilient future for our county.

We're working with district and borough councils on plans to reduce the amount of carbon which is produced and released into the atmosphere in West Sussex, and ways to help us prepare for the increasing impacts of a changing climate.

Take part in the consultation here: https://yourvoice.westsussex.gov.uk/climatesurvey

Address

Warnham Road
Horsham
RH122RA

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4pm
Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+441403256890

Website

http://www.horsham.gov.uk/warnhamlnr

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