Warnham Local Nature Reserve — Attraction in Horsham

Warnham Local Nature Reserve is a real gem just a short stroll from Horsham town centre—a tranquil, rich slice of nature that feels far more remote than its proximity suggests. The Reserve spans about 92 acres, with a 17-acre millpond as its centerpiece, surrounded by marshes, reedbeds, ancient woodlands, meadows, hedgerows and water habitat.

One of the biggest joys of visiting is the wildlife. With over 100 species of birds recorded regularly—herons, kingfishers, woodpeckers, even rarer warblers—and more than 400 species of plants (from orchids to ancient oaks) there’s always something new to spot. Dragonflies dance above the water, and the whisper of frogs and wildlife in the undergrowth adds to the atmosphere.

Facilities are well thought out. The Discovery Hub and Visitor Centre offer a calm and informative start to the walk, with interactive displays, nest-cam footage, and recent wildlife sightings. The Heron’s Rest Café provides a lovely stop for hot drinks or snacks, courtyard seating, and space to rest before or after wandering the trails.

Paths are generally good: boardwalks over wet areas, well-kept trails for woodland and meadow walks, and hides/viewing screens at strategic points around the pond so you can stay quiet and connected with nature. Accessible for buggies or mobility needs, there are a few steeper or unsurfaced bits, so a little planning helps.

Overall, Warnham is a perfect spot for a peaceful afternoon walk, bird watching, nature photography, or just escaping into greenery. It balances beauty, accessibility and wildlife richness...

What a fantastic place! Great for all ages and in all weather's. We visited on a hot sunny day as a family. There is plenty of parking (2 disabled spots). As you enter there is a gorgeous little pond that was teeming with frogs. Great for the little members of the family to spot dragon flies, tadpoles, frogs etc. The entrance area had drinks and snacks and a seating area. You can buy guide books for the various things you'll spot walking around. The reserve itself is quite accessible although you may struggle if it's been raining. It's very quiet and peaceful. Our only issue was a lack of maps or signposting. I would have suggested they do colour coded walks so you can see what sort of distances are involved. We stopped as we weren't sure how far we had gotten or how to get back. There isn't any Internet so you can't look it up. We had explained at the entrance it was our first time visiting and they simply said its signposted. Unfortunately the sign posts aren't much use unless you know exactly where the hides or dipping ponds are fir example , or how far you've got left. It's probably not a problem unless you are disabled or have limited mobility. There are lots of information boards dotted around so I'm sure a map...

I was returning home from a short stay a little further south in Sussex, and I had dome time and good weather so I located dome nature reserves and Warnham had good reviews, so I called there. My first vantage point by the lake was beside a point where some reed had been recently cut revealing some shallow water where a Grey Heron was taking slow steps, head high seeking a fish. While unfortunately, the light was not ideal for photography, I had a glimpse of it catching a small. roach.

The trails were well kept and had some descriptions. I walked to a marshy meadow upstream of the lake, and took a walk through a steep path in a butterfly clearing. Though this was during late September there were Speckled Woods and Red Admirals with many Common Darter dragonflies.

I visited the centre with environmental and monitoring facilities and bought a coffee in a small cafe being run by volunteers.

It was a good place to stop if you...