Friends of Waterhall

19/07/2026

Dear Friends of Waterhall

The school holidays have arrived again!

Weather permitting, ranger Mike and volunteer ranger Gail will be hosting a series of Family Friendly Safaris at Waterhall Local Nature Reserve on Wednesday mornings during the holidays from 10.00 until 12.00.

These events will all include a selection of weather-dependent activities such as moth trapping, identifying wildflowers and hunting for bugs, beetles, butterflies, grasshoppers & reptiles.

The activities are generally suitable for all ages but youngsters under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

If you’d like to attend, please book a ticket for each person using the following links. Tickets are free but at the end of the event you’ll be given details of how you can make a small donation to support the educational work of the rangers, if you are able and willing to do so.

Jul 29: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1994418423192?aff=oddtdtcreator

Aug 05: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1994418573642?aff=oddtdtcreator

Aug 12: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1994419208541?aff=oddtdtcreator

Aug 19: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1994419382060?aff=oddtdtcreator

Aug 26: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1994419423183?aff=oddtdtcreator

Individual events will only be cancelled if the weather forecast is really terrible - please check our page for updates (search for “Friends of Waterhall”).

We advise wearing sturdy footwear, long sleeves and trousers.

Looking forward to seeing you (& your family) if you can make it!

Feel free to share this information with friends!

Directions to Waterhall Local Nature Reserve:

By car:
To find us, putting Waterhall Golf Course into a sat nav usually seems to work quite well. Or post code: BN1 8AX.
We’re just off Saddlescombe Road to the north of Hove. From the A27 exit at Hove, take the Saddlescombe Road north towards Devil’s D**e.
After a short distance take the right hand fork and we’re first on the right at the brow of the Hill (Waterhall Local Nature Reserve). We’ll open the barrier for you – there is a free car park for those attending events/activities.

By bus:
Weekends and daily during summer months (mid-Jun to beginning Sep) No. 77 to D**e Approach
Any time: No. 27 to Green Ridge.
Get off at the windmill on Green Ridge, then follow the walking instructions below.

Walking or by bike (safe route, avoiding the busy roundabouts where D**e Road meets the A27):
Find you way to D**e Road. Head north (up hill) to the Hilltop Café (just before the big roundabout at the A27). Cut across the field (called Green Ridge) behind the café to the windmill. Go through the gate in the hedge on the left just before you reach the windmill. Cross the road (Mill Road) and take the path opposite. Go down the hill (it is steep so you may want to push your bike), over the footbridge which crosses the A27 and continue down the path to the track at the bottom of the hill. Turn left, go past the rugby club (which is on your right), through the gate & up the bridleway to Waterhall clubhouse (You’ll need to push your bike up the bridleway – or alternatively lock it up at the rugby club and pick it up on the way home).

Map is here: https://goo.gl/maps/CHTwpxF37QexXsar5) What3Words: ///lined.future.orchestra.

19/07/2026

Dear Friends of Waterhall

Our next Volunteering Session is on 01 Aug.

Plan A: An experiment with Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris), the plant many people love to hate! It’s a native wildflower and a great source of pollen and nectar, valuable to many invertebrates. However, it is also classed as an injurious w**d due to its potential to poison livestock if it is accidentally harvested during haymaking. Ragwort is also currently the subject of a lively debate concerning whether traditional attempts to control it are effective, ineffective or even counterproductive. We’d like to test this at Waterhall with an experiment to determine whether cutting, pulling or leaving the Ragwort to seed and then die is the most effective way to limit the tendency of the plant to dominate the sward in future years. Ragwort is currently flowering in large quantities at Waterhall. However given the fine weather, it is possible that it may already have largely gone to seed by 01 Aug. If this is the case, Plan B is to continue working on the chalk scrape that we began creating earlier this month.

As usual, we'll meet at 10.00 a.m. at Waterhall Clubhouse (directions below).

If you intend to come, please book a slot via the following link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/waterhall-volunteering-task-01-aug-2026-tickets-1994417472348?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please wear sturdy footwear and clothing appropriate for the for the weather and suitable for working on rough ground. I'll provide gloves, tools and light refreshments (tea, coffee, biscuits). Do bring some lunch if you would like something more substantial.

We'll finish by 14.00 but there's no obligation to stay longer than you want to!

If the weather forecast is looking particularly dire, please check your e-mail or our page for updates before setting-out.

Directions to Waterhall Local Nature Reserve:

By car:
To find us, use “Wilding Waterhall” or “BN1 8AX” for your sat.nav.
We’re just off Saddlescombe Road to the north of Hove. From the A27 exit at Hove, take the Saddlescombe Road north towards Devil’s D**e.
After a short distance take the right hand fork and we’re first on the right at the brow of the Hill (Waterhall Local Nature Reserve). We’ll open the barrier for you – there is a free car park for those attending events/activities.

By bus:
No. 77 to Devils D**e. Every day during the summer months ONLY (from late June until beginning of Sep). Outside of this time this bus only runs on Saturdays, Sundays & public holidays. Ask the bus driver to drop you at D**e Approach. Waterhall is to your right as the bus travels. When you get off, take the short path to Saddlescombe Road, cross the road & go through the gate into the field (usually containing ponies). Turn left and walk along the top of the field to the driveway which will take you down to the Waterhall clubhouse.

No. 27 to Green Ridge.
Get off at the windmill on Green Ridge, then follow the walking instructions below.

Walking or by bike (safe route, avoiding the busy roundabouts where D**e Road meets the A27):

Find you way to D**e Road. Head north (up hill) to the Hilltop Café (just before the big roundabout at the A27). Cut across the field (called Green Ridge) behind the café to the windmill. Go through the gate in the hedge on the left just before you reach the windmill. Cross the road (Mill Road) and take the path opposite. Go down the hill (it is steep so you may want to push your bike), over the footbridge which crosses the A27 and continue down the path to the track at the bottom of the hill. Turn left, go past the rugby club (which is on your right), through the gate & up the bridleway to Waterhall clubhouse (You’ll need to push your bike up the bridleway – or alternatively lock it up at the rugby club and pick it up on the way home).

What3Words (Clubhouse): ///lined.future.orchestra.

Looking forward to seeing you if you can make it!

All best,

Mike

07/07/2026

Waterhall in wild bloom ... 06 Jul 2026 … with credit to everyone who has participated in and supported the Wilding Waterhall project!

06/07/2026

Dear Friends of Waterhall

Waterhall is now in glorious full bloom, with large swathes of what used to be golf fairways, tees and greens now carpeted with Lady’s Bedstraw, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Wild Thyme and various Hawkbits, Hawksbeards and Hawkw**ds … to mention but a few. The air is heavy with the scent of flowers and humming with the sound of pollinators. Meanwhile the new woodland glades which you’ve cleared over the winter have sprung into life with a fresh flush of ground flora. The work we’ve done to manage the scrub also seems to be supporting a very heathy population of reptiles and small mammals. Recent highlights include many sightings of Adder, Stoat, Weasel and raptors including Buzzard, Red Kite and Sparrowhawk.

It seems like a good time to be planning the next phase of our work. The Wilding Waterhall project may have finished but our work will continue, with the aim of maintaining a diverse range of habitats in a dynamic and ever-changing mosaic.

Here are the planned dates for the next volunteer workdays at Waterhall:

01 Aug
12 Sep
10 Oct
07 Nov
05 Dec
16 Jan ‘27

I will send more details of planned tasks by e-mail and also via our page approximately 2 weeks before each workday.

Looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Mike

21/06/2026

Many thanks to all who came to volunteer on 06 June! The weather wasn’t particularly friendly – there was a fierce south-westerly wind and some heavy showers, so we changed our original plan, moved to the sheltered side of the hill and cleared a footpath which was becoming overgrown (see photos). It's great to have that job done as it is a statutory duty for landowners to keep public rights of way open and passable. I think we successfully balanced this responsibility with the equally important priorities of avoiding disturbance of nesting birds and preserving a nice “ecotone” along the edges of the path.

The plan to start creating a new chalk scrape has yet to begin in earnest. So, weather-permitting, we’ll try again on 04 Jul!

As usual, we'll meet at 10.00 a.m. at Waterhall Clubhouse (directions below).

If you intend to come, please book a slot via the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1992306846409?aff=oddtdtcreator

As usual, please wear sturdy footwear and clothing appropriate for the for the weather and suitable for working on rough ground. I'll provide gloves and light refreshments (tea, coffee, biscuits). Do bring some lunch if you would like something more substantial.

We'll finish by 14.00 but there's no obligation to stay longer than you want to!

If the weather forecast is looking particularly dire, please check your e-mail or our page for updates before setting-out.

Directions to Waterhall Local Nature Reserve:

By car:
To find us, use “Wilding Waterhall” or “BN1 8AX” for your sat.nav.
We’re just off Saddlescombe Road to the north of Hove. From the A27 exit at Hove, take the Saddlescombe Road north towards Devil’s D**e.
After a short distance take the right hand fork and we’re first on the right at the brow of the Hill (Waterhall Local Nature Reserve). We’ll open the barrier for you – there is a free car park for those attending events/activities.

By bus:
No. 77 to Devils D**e. Every day during the summer months ONLY (from late June until beginning of Sep). Outside of this time this bus only runs on Saturdays, Sundays & public holidays. Ask the bus driver to drop you at D**e Approach. Waterhall is to your right as the bus travels. When you get off, take the short path to Saddlescombe Road, cross the road & go through the gate into the field (usually containing ponies). Turn left and walk along the top of the field to the driveway which will take you down to the Waterhall clubhouse.

No. 27 to Green Ridge.
Get off at the windmill on Green Ridge, then follow the walking instructions below.

Walking or by bike (safe route, avoiding the busy roundabouts where D**e Road meets the A27):

Find you way to D**e Road. Head north (up hill) to the Hilltop Café (just before the big roundabout at the A27). Cut across the field (called Green Ridge) behind the café to the windmill. Go through the gate in the hedge on the left just before you reach the windmill. Cross the road (Mill Road) and take the path opposite. Go down the hill (it is steep so you may want to push your bike), over the footbridge which crosses the A27 and continue down the path to the track at the bottom of the hill. Turn left, go past the rugby club (which is on your right), through the gate & up the bridleway to Waterhall clubhouse (You’ll need to push your bike up the bridleway – or alternatively lock it up at the rugby club and pick it up on the way home).

What3Words (Clubhouse): ///lined.future.orchestra.

Looking forward to seeing you if you can make it!

If you’re late arriving, head due West from the clubhouse and you should find us in a few minutes – give me a call if that doesn’t work!

03/06/2026

The Chalk Grassland at Waterhall has started to come into bloom, with Common Rockrose, Dropwort, Small Scabious and Salad Burnet in flower alongside grasses such as Quaking Grass.

An area which had a trench dug through it to find a leak in the water infrastructure last year has also come up with a host of annual, biennial and short lived perennial species such as Wild Mignonette, Red Campion and White Campion, showing the value of some component of periodic disturbance of the soil, in moderation, as part of site management.

Although abundant in many places at Waterhall, Common Rockrose has recently been reassessed as Vulnerable in the UK, alongside other once common plants such as Devil's Bit Scabious.

24/05/2026

Dear Friends

The Rangers need some extra help to ensure the ponies and cattle at Waterhall Local Nature Reserve are checked regularly. This is called “lookering”.

What does lookering involve?
• Visiting Waterhall Local Nature Reserve and walking to the areas where the animals are grazing (locations can vary but details will be provided)
• Checking the water troughs are full of water
• Checking the expected number of animals are present and look healthy

Note: Waterhall is a big site and the cattle are sometimes a significant distance from the gates; you may sometimes need to walk up to 2 miles. There are some steep slopes and the ground is uneven in places.

How long does it take?
• The cattle are frequently moved around the site, so the length of your walk and the time it might take could vary from 30 to 60 minutes

How often would I have to do it?
• As often or as little as you like. You will be given a link to an online rota and you can sign-up for dates when you are available.

Will I get any training?
• Yes – the initial training session is scheduled for Saturday 20 June at the Waterhall Clubhouse. You can sign-up to attend (without committing to become a lookerer) here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lookerer-training-session-tickets-1990270604956?aff=oddtdtcreator
• If you can’t make 20 June, please register your interest by sending an e-mail to [email protected] and we will add you to a waiting list for future training.

What happens if I discover a problem when I am lookering?
• You will be given contact numbers for the rangers on duty and for the graziers (farmers who own the animals). All you have to do is send a text message to let them know your concerns.

I’m interested. What do I do next?
• Come to our training session on 20 June or send an e-mail to [email protected] to be added to the waiting list for future training.

Please feel free to share this message with anyone you know who may be interested,

Many thanks!

Mike

24/05/2026

Dear Friends

Huge thanks to everyone who turned-out to work on the “Bridleway Glade” on 18 April. Great progress was made and this glade is now surrounded by an impressive “ecotone” making it a great place for travellers on the bridleway to take a break and enjoy some chirping, fluttering, creeping, crawling and buzzing.

On 06 June we'll start work on creating a “chalk scrape”. We’ll remove low-growing vegetation and topsoil from a small area of slope. This will allow vegetative succession to be "reset", favouring pioneer plants that can colonise bare chalk (such as Horseshoe Vetch, the larval foodplant of the Chalkhill Blue and Adonis Blue butterflies).

As usual, we'll meet at 10.00 a.m. at Waterhall Clubhouse (directions below).

If you intend to come, please book a slot via the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/friends-of-waterhall-volunteering-task-06-jun-2026-tickets-1990015303342?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please wear sturdy footwear and clothing appropriate for the for the weather and suitable for working on rough ground. I'll provide gloves and light refreshments (tea, coffee, chocolate biscuits). Do bring some lunch if you would like something more substantial.

We'll finish by 14.00 but there's no obligation to stay longer than you want to!

If the weather forecast is looking particularly dire, please check your e-mail or our page for updates before setting-out.

Directions to Waterhall Local Nature Reserve:

By car:
To find us, use “Wilding Waterhall” or “BN1 8AX” for your sat.nav.
We’re just off Saddlescombe Road to the north of Hove. From the A27 exit at Hove, take the Saddlescombe Road north towards Devil’s D**e.
After a short distance take the right hand fork and we’re first on the right at the brow of the Hill (Waterhall Local Nature Reserve). We’ll open the barrier for you – there is a free car park for those attending events/activities.

By bus:
No. 77 to Devils D**e. Every day during the summer months ONLY (from late June until beginning of Sep). Outside of this time this bus only runs on Saturdays, Sundays & public holidays. Ask the bus driver to drop you at D**e Approach. Waterhall is to your right as the bus travels. When you get off, take the short path to Saddlescombe Road, cross the road & go through the gate into the field (usually containing ponies). Turn left and walk along the top of the field to the driveway which will take you down to the Waterhall clubhouse.

No. 27 to Green Ridge.
Get off at the windmill on Green Ridge, then follow the walking instructions below.

Walking or by bike (safe route, avoiding the busy roundabouts where D**e Road meets the A27):

Find you way to D**e Road. Head north (up hill) to the Hilltop Café (just before the big roundabout at the A27). Cut across the field (called Green Ridge) behind the café to the windmill. Go through the gate in the hedge on the left just before you reach the windmill. Cross the road (Mill Road) and take the path opposite. Go down the hill (it is steep so you may want to push your bike), over the footbridge which crosses the A27 and continue down the path to the track at the bottom of the hill. Turn left, go past the rugby club (which is on your right), through the gate & up the bridleway to Waterhall clubhouse (You’ll need to push your bike up the bridleway – or alternatively lock it up at the rugby club and pick it up on the way home).

What3Words (Clubhouse): ///lined.future.orchestra.

Looking forward to seeing you if you can make it!

All best,

Mike

We'll be creaing a chalk scrape.

12/04/2026

Dear Friends

Many thanks to all who started to clear our “bridleway glade” on 07 Mar. Thanks to your hard work it is looking more like a glade and less like a thicket. On 18 Apr, we will continue with this work to enhance habitat for wildflowers, butterflies and reptiles. We might also do some work on the bridleway itself which has become deeply rutted as a result of all the winter rain.

As usual:

If you plan to come, please book a slot using the following link to ensure that we have enough tools:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/friends-of-waterhall-volunteering-task-18-apr-2026-tickets-1987251719388?aff=oddtdtcreator

We’ll meet at Waterhall Clubhouse at 10.00 a.m.

If you arrive late, go to the bottom of the car-park where you'll find the bridleway which continues down the hill towards the rugby club. We'll be just off the bridleway on the left hand side ... about half way between the clubhouse and the rugby club. W3W: losses.smiled.inch

Please wear sturdy footwear and clothing appropriate for the for the weather and suitable for working with brambles and mud! I'll provide tea, coffee and chocolate biscuits. Please bring some lunch if you would like something more substantial.

We'll finish by 14.00 but there's no obligation to stay longer than you want to!

If the weather forecast is looking particularly dire, please check your e-mail or our page for updates before setting-out.

Directions to Waterhall Local Nature Reserve:

By car:
To find us, use “Wilding Waterhall” or “BN1 8AX” for your sat.nav.
We’re just off Saddlescombe Road to the north of Hove. From the A27 exit at Hove, take the Saddlescombe Road north towards Devil’s D**e.
After a short distance take the right hand fork and we’re first on the right at the brow of the Hill (Waterhall Local Nature Reserve). We’ll open the barrier for you – there is a free car park for those attending events/activities.

By bus:
No. 77 to Devils D**e. Every day during the summer months ONLY (from late June until beginning of Sep). Outside of this time this bus only runs on Saturdays, Sundays & public holidays. Ask the bus driver to drop you at D**e Approach. Waterhall is to your right as the bus travels. When you get off, take the short path to Saddlescombe Road, cross the road & go through the gate into the field (usually containing ponies). Turn left and walk along the top of the field to the driveway which will take you down to the Waterhall clubhouse.

No. 27 to Green Ridge.
Get off at the windmill on Green Ridge, then follow the walking instructions below.

Walking or by bike (safe route, avoiding the busy roundabouts where D**e Road meets the A27):

Find you way to D**e Road. Head north (up hill) to the Hilltop Café (just before the big roundabout at the A27). Cut across the field (called Green Ridge) behind the café to the windmill. Go through the gate in the hedge on the left just before you reach the windmill. Cross the road (Mill Road) and take the path opposite. Go down the hill (it is steep so you may want to push your bike), over the footbridge which crosses the A27 and continue down the path to the track at the bottom of the hill. Turn left, go past the rugby club (which is on your right), through the gate & up the bridleway to Waterhall clubhouse (You’ll need to push your bike up the bridleway – or alternatively lock it up at the rugby club and pick it up on the way home).

Map is here: Visiting Wilding Waterhall

What3Words (Clubhouse): ///lined.future.orchestra.

Looking forward to seeing you!

All best,

Mike

18/03/2026

Dear Friends

As you are probably aware, due to limited staffing the dates of our volunteering days have become less predictable in recent months.

Fortunately, I now have a permanent job and a new work roster, so I can start to plan a little more effectively!

Below are the dates on which I’m planning to support Friends of Waterhall volunteering tasks for the next few months.

I will send a link for you to sign-up to each individual task approximately 2 weeks in advance of the task.

Please also note these dates could be subject to change. Late cancellations are always possible due to weather, illness and other unforeseen events … please keep an eye on your e-mail &/or the Friends of Waterhall page for updates.

18 Apr
May – no task as I will be on holiday!
06 Jun
04 Jul

Looking forward to seeing you again soon!

All best

Mike