The Rother Environmental Group recently arranged a visit for members and friends to Brede High Woods which are located on the north-east shore of Powdermill Reservoir in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. They were met by David Bonsall, the local Woodland Trust Regional Manager, who generously shared his extensive knowledge with the group.
Rachel Hills, one of the party writes: “Our tour included sight of the reservoir and walks through all the various woods – ancient, conifers, and the 20th century newcomers of larch, beech, pine and sycamore. There were wood anemones, purple orchids, bluebells, primroses, the sun shone and the birds sang!
“A first visit for me! A gem of a place, steeped in history and with a sensitively planned future alive to the ever changing problems of newly arriving diseases and the changing needs of all the 350 acre species both plants and wildlife.
“Brede High Woods will now join my list of ‘favourite places to visit’. The woods are family friendly, but the paths would be a challenge for buggies and wheelchairs, and right now there are tadpoles in puddles, as well as carpets of bluebells drawing down the sky into the heart of the wood. Irresistible! I am already planning my return trip and will take a friend.”
Photos: Rye Environmental Group