The Wildflower Meadow

Front Meadow is a registered Site of Nature Conservation Interest and is the best natural, acid wildflower meadow in West Sussex. See the meadow at it's best in June.

People appreciate the importance of preserving our native flora and fauna, but many people do not realise that our rich variety of native plants thrive best on natural soil, ie soil which has not been ‘improved’ with fertilisers and weedkillers. (Some ‘man-made’ wildflower meadows are ploughed and reseeded every year.)

Front Meadow is a natural meadow and within living memory has never been ploughed or cultivated. This is why it has a particularly rich variety of native wildflowers, all of which are self-seeded.

The Meadow has a complex eco system of undisturbed top-soil and is cut once a year in August, the cuttings are then left to lie on the ground for several days so that seeds can fall, before the heavy horses visit.

August 2008 – from 11am
Heavy horses from the Working Horses Trust work the meadow, harrowing the fields. These magnificent animals work the fields in the traditional way, collecting the hay. A very popular day and we welcome visitors of all ages. There will also be a Country Market and Craft Demonstrations. Accompanied children aged 14 and under are admitted free of charge.

A leaflet listing all the wildflowers is available from the Gatelodge. Look out for Devil’s-bit Scabious (Succia pratensis) and the Green-winged Orchid (Orchis morio). Other native species include Cowslips, Ox-eye Daisies, Bugles, Clovers and Trefoils. Recent additions to the wildflower list include: Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold), Carex caryphyllea (Spring Sedge), Plantago coronopus (Buck's-horn Plantain), Viola reichenbachiana (Early Dog-violet). The Botanical Society of the British Isles has recorded well in excess of 200 native species throughout the gardens.

Look out for 3 types of woodpecker, kingfishers, woodcock, golden crested wrens and long tailed tits.