Williamson's Weekly Nature Notes

The nature reserve is managed by The Sussex Wildlife Trust, and there is a wonderful walk through the snipe bog, through the reeds and the alder woods, over the causeway.

Lesser-spotted woodpeckers will tap for beetles in the huge old ancient sweet chestnut trees, and dragonflies of many kinds glide through the summer air.

It is just one of 30 reserves illustrated by the trust in a new glossy guide book that is yours for 10 from its headquarters at Woods Mill, Henfield. Order your copy on 01273 492630. Maps show where to walk, with photos of flowers you could see, as well as scenes of the Downs, the heaths, the brooks or the tidal pools.

I have been hugging my copy to my chest all this week and shooting off in all directions to see these goodies for myself. Ever been to Ashdown Forest for instance?

The book shows you where to walk for about two miles to see the stonechat, woodlark or golden-ringed dragonfly. Or try Iping and Stedham Commons for all that heather, where Dartford warblers and silver-studded blues flitter among the gorse and the sweetly scented pine and birch groves.

Waltham Brooks on the Arun at Greatham bridge provides close views on the walk of shoveller ducks, wigeon, pintail, shelduck and teal.

Go now before all these migrants disperse north. Otherwise, you could see yellow wagtails and sedge warblers instead. Woods Mill gives you the indoor displays and shop, of course, but outside you may get a glimpse or a close-up of kingfishers, water rails and the beautiful demoiselle.

The trust reserve that surrounds my home here at West Dean Woods is famous for its wild daffodil colony, with three million flowers in mid March.

This reserve is difficult to find but a map in the book shows you where the permitted path by the bridleway is located to pass the best of the daffodil colony and also, as in all the maps, where to park.

Ebernoe Common, the Mens, Pagham Harbour, Ditchling Beacon, Rye Harbour and Pevensey Levels are among the many other reserves covered in the book.

Recommended. The trust has a 30,000 membership, runs a full education service, is principal partner of the Sussex Biodiversity Records Centre, runs the Sussex Otters and Rivers Project, and encourages farmers and landowners to manage land in a more wildlife-friendly way.

This feature was first published in the West Sussex Gazette March 19. To read it first, buy the West Sussex Gazette every Wednesday.