Visiting the Woods
About St. Helen’s Woods Nature Reserve
This special place is cared for by the St. Helen’s Park Preservation Society, whose volunteers work year-round to preserve its unique habitats and ensure the nature reserve continues to thrive for future generations. Our conservation efforts, supported by local people, fundraising and community events, help maintain this vital green space within Hastings.
The reserve sits between gently sloping valleys, with distant views of the sea beyond the rooftops of Hastings. Designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1988, over 53% of the landscape is made up of rare lowland meadows, with the remainder cloaked in mature and ancient woodland.
Bluebells cover the ground in spring.
In spring, the woodland floor bursts into bloom with Wood Anemones and Bluebells before the summer canopy brings shade and shelter. Over 40 species of nesting birds call the woods home, including the Tawny Owl, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Treecreepers, and Long-tailed Tits. In summer, hedgerows come alive with Chiffchaffs and other insect-loving birds.
Reflecting the beauty of the nearby High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the landscape features ancient woodland, coppiced areas, wooded gills, and wildflower-rich meadows.
Trees such as Ash, Beech, Oak, and Yew—some possibly dating back to the Napoleonic era—provide shelter to countless species. In certain parts of the reserve, over 100 plant species have been recorded, many of them increasingly rare in the UK.
At a time when wildflower meadows are disappearing across the country, St. Helen’s Woods remains a rare and thriving refuge. Thanks to careful conservation, mowing and removing saplings, the grasslands support butterflies like the Orange-tip and Green-veined White, along with the birds and mammals that depend on them.
A barbecue area is available for private and community events, often held to raise funds for the woodland’s continued care. Join us in caring for this wonderful nature reserve.
We kindly ask that everyone who visits helps us protect this precious place by sticking to paths, keeping dogs under control, and leaving no trace behind. Even the smallest actions help protect the reserve, its fragile ecosystems, and the many birds and animals that depend on them to survive.
Explore the reserve along a network of designated paths.
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Help Care for and Protect St. Helen’s Woods
Your donation helps us safeguard the nature reserve, support conservation projects, and keep St Helen’s Woods thriving for everyone to enjoy.
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