TEXT PAGES 2004v5 - Walk & Cycle · railway,chalk loving plants such as Common Spotted Orchid and...
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History For much of its length Worth Way follows the railway line which ran from East Grinstead to Three Bridges. Opened on 9th July 1855, Rowfant and subsequently Grange Road (Crawley Down) were the only stations along the route. In 1866 the railway was extended from East Grinstead to Tunbridge Wells most of which is now Forest Way Country Park.A century later the whole line was closed as part of the line closures proposed by the then British Rail Chairman, Dr Beeching, in the 1960’s. Rowfant Station, although not open to the public, still survives. Grange Road station no longer exists.The site, to the west of the Royal Oak public house, is now a terrace of shops and the railway line from Grange Road to Cob Close has been built over. Little remains of another section of the railway line between the M23 motorway and Keepers Crossing as the cutting was used as a landfill site in the 1970s.A line of trees indicates the route of the former railway line. Wildlife Worth Way supports a diverse variety of wildlife and much of the route has been designated a Site of Nature Conservation Importance. Since the closure of the railway much of its length has been colonised by trees such as Ash and Silver Birch, and shrubs including Hazel and Sallow. Where chalk was used in the construction of the railway, chalk loving plants such as Common Spotted Orchid and Wild Strawberry flourish. The range of habitats attracts a variety of birds. Nuthatch and Chiffchaff can be heard in the trees while the elusive Kingfisher may be glimpsed at Crawley Down Pond. Butterflies too are seen in good weather.The most notable is the White Admiral which flies in June whilst Speckled Wood Butterflies can often be seen defending their territories in sunny glades. Mammals and reptiles are elusive but a quiet approach can provide a glimpse of Roe Deer and Fox on surrounding farmland. Bats can sometimes be seen at dusk. Management of Worth Way aims to maintain a mosaic of differently aged trees and shrubs together with open areas. Some of the trees and shrubs are coppiced in rotation. Coppicing is a traditional form of management whereby trees and shrubs, notably Hazel, are cut down to the base.This benefits plants such as Primroses, and a variety of insects, which thrive with the increased light and warmth.The dense regrowth of stems in turn provides valuable nesting sites for birds. Elsewhere open areas are regularly cut.This prevents scrub from invading and allows species that like open conditions to survive. Ditches help to keep the route dry but are also important for wildlife. A relatively large pond exists at Crawley Down (Crawley Down Pond).This is managed with the assistance of a local voluntary group, the Pond Environmental Group. Further contacts For further information on walking, cycling or horse-riding in the High Weald of West Sussex contact West Sussex County Council,Environment and Development Tel 01293 542088. Email: [email protected] www.westsussex.gov.uk For further information on Worth Way and the West Sussex section of Forest Way contact West Sussex County Council, Rural Strategy,High Weald Countryside Team. Tel 01293 542088/544120. Email: [email protected] For further information on walking and other countryside activities in East Sussex and for a copy of the Forest Way leaflet contact East Sussex County Council.Tel 01273 482670. Email: [email protected] If you would like a copy of this leaflet in another format (audio, Braille, large print, another language) please contact the Communications Officer,Environment and Development, West Sussex County Council,The Grange,Tower Street,Chichester,West Sussex PO19 1RH.Telephone 01243 777544 or email [email protected] Designed and produced by West Sussex County Council, Environment and Development, Design and Cartography team. Printed by St Richards Press, Chichester, on 100% recycled paper. Kieran Stigant, Director for Environment and Development December 2005 Other routes of interest Worth Way links through East Grinstead to Forest Way Country Park.This 10 mile/16km route ends near Groombridge, East Sussex, and similarly to Worth Way, follows the old railway line.The route is accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders.West Sussex and East Sussex County Councils manage Forest Way. A number of public footpaths and public bridleways link with Worth and Forest Ways. Other promoted routes include four Worth Way circular walks, the Sussex Border Path and the High Weald Landscape Trail. Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 135 shows details, or alternatively contact one of the sources listed on the back of this leaflet. Introduction Worth Way is a seven mile (11 kilometre) route from Three Bridges to East Grinstead. Officially opened on the 10th July 1979, it forms a valuable wildlife corridor and shared-use route for pedestrians, horse-riders and cyclists. Part of Worth Way is a Country Park (bylaws apply).The National Cycle Network (Route 21) from London to Eastbourne passes along Worth Way. Worth Way from Three Bridges to M23 lies within Crawley Borough. West Sussex County Council manages the remainder of Worth Way. Finding Your Way This leaflet is only a guide. Inset maps are provided at difficult points but you are recommended to use the following OS maps in conjunction with this guide. 1:50 000 Landranger Series Sheet 187 Dorking & Reigate 1:25 000 Explorer Series 134 Crawley & Horsham 135 Ashdown Forest Cyclists • Slow down, give way and leave plenty of room for walkers, horses and people with disabilities. • Cycle responsibly and carefully. • Do not surprise people – they might not have heard or seen you. • Use a bell. Walkers • Do not obstruct cyclists. • Keep dogs under proper control (bylaws apply). • Clear up after your dog. Horse Riders • Walk past other users. • Do not canter or gallop. Sundays Monday-Saturday 7.00am to 8.00pm L I N E O P E N F R O M 8.00am to 8.00pm For all your local bus, coach and rail enquiries Speckled Wood Butterfly Primrose Rowfant Station TEXT PAGES 2004v5 12/12/05 16:31 Page 1
Transcript of TEXT PAGES 2004v5 - Walk & Cycle · railway,chalk loving plants such as Common Spotted Orchid and...
HistoryFor much of its length Worth Way follows therailway line which ran from East Grinstead to ThreeBridges.Opened on 9th July 1855,Rowfant andsubsequently Grange Road (Crawley Down) werethe only stations along theroute.In 1866 the railway wasextended from East Grinsteadto Tunbridge Wells most ofwhich is now Forest WayCountry Park.A century laterthe whole line was closed aspart of the line closuresproposed by the then BritishRail Chairman,Dr Beeching,inthe 1960’s.
Rowfant Station,although not open to the public,stillsurvives.Grange Road station no longer exists.Thesite,to the west of the Royal Oak public house,is nowa terrace of shops and the railway line from GrangeRoad to Cob Close has been built over.
Little remains of another section of the railway linebetween the M23 motorway and Keepers Crossingas the cutting was used as a landfill site in the1970s.A line of trees indicates theroute of the former railway line.
WildlifeWorth Way supports a diversevariety of wildlife and much of theroute has been designated a Site of NatureConservation Importance.Since the closure of therailway much of its length has been colonised by treessuch as Ash and Silver Birch,and shrubs includingHazel and Sallow.
Where chalk was used in the construction of therailway,chalk loving plants such as Common SpottedOrchid and Wild Strawberry flourish.
The range of habitats attracts avariety of birds.Nuthatch andChiffchaff can be heard in thetrees while the elusiveKingfisher may be glimpsed atCrawley Down Pond.
Butterflies too are seen in good weather.The mostnotable is the White Admiral which flies in Junewhilst Speckled Wood Butterflies can often be seendefending their territories in sunny glades.
Mammals and reptiles are elusive but a quietapproach can provide a glimpse of Roe Deer and Foxon surrounding farmland.Bats can sometimes be
seen at dusk.
Management of Worth Way aims to maintain amosaic of differently aged trees and shrubs
together with open areas.Some of thetrees and shrubs are coppiced in rotation.
Coppicing is a traditional form of managementwhereby trees and shrubs,notably Hazel,are cutdown to the base.This benefits plants such asPrimroses,and a variety of insects,which thrive withthe increased light and warmth.The dense regrowthof stems in turn provides valuable nesting sites forbirds.
Elsewhere open areas are regularly cut.This preventsscrub from invading and allowsspecies that like open
conditions to survive.
Ditches help to keepthe route dry butare also importantfor wildlife.Arelatively large pond
exists at CrawleyDown (Crawley
Down Pond).This ismanaged with the assistance
of a local voluntary group,thePond Environmental Group.
Further contactsFor further information on walking, cycling or horse-riding inthe High Weald of West Sussex contact West Sussex CountyCouncil, Environment and Development Tel 01293 542088.
Email: [email protected]
For further information on Worth Way and the West Sussexsection of Forest Way contact West Sussex County Council,
Rural Strategy, High Weald Countryside Team.Tel 01293 542088/544120.
Email: [email protected]
For further information on walking and other countrysideactivities in East Sussex and for a copy of the Forest Way
leaflet contact East Sussex County Council.Tel 01273 482670.Email: [email protected]
If you would like a copy of this leaflet in another format (audio, Braille, large print, anotherlanguage) please contact the Communications Officer, Environment and Development,West Sussex County Council,The Grange,Tower Street, Chichester,West SussexPO19 1RH.Telephone 01243 777544 or email [email protected]
Designed and produced by West Sussex County Council,Environment and Development, Design and Cartography team.
Printed by St Richards Press, Chichester, on 100% recycled paper.Kieran Stigant, Director for Environment and Development
December 2005
Other routes of interestWorth Way links through East Grinstead toForest Way Country Park.This 10 mile/16kmroute ends near Groombridge, East Sussex, andsimilarly to Worth Way, follows the old railwayline.The route is accessible to pedestrians, cyclistsand horse-riders.West Sussex and East SussexCounty Councils manage Forest Way.
A number of public footpaths and publicbridleways link with Worth and Forest Ways.Other promoted routes include four Worth Waycircular walks, the Sussex Border Path and theHigh Weald Landscape Trail. Ordnance SurveyExplorer Map 135 shows details, or alternativelycontact one of the sources listed on the back ofthis leaflet.
Introduction Worth Way is a seven mile (11 kilometre) route fromThree Bridges to East Grinstead.Officially opened onthe 10th July 1979,it forms a valuable wildlife corridorand shared-use route for pedestrians,horse-riders andcyclists.Part of Worth Way is a Country Park (bylawsapply).The National Cycle Network (Route 21) fromLondon to Eastbourne passes along Worth Way.
Worth Way from Three Bridges to M23 lies withinCrawley Borough.West Sussex County Council manages the remainderof Worth Way.
Finding Your WayThis leaflet is only a guide.Inset maps are provided atdifficult points but you are recommended to use thefollowing OS maps in conjunction with this guide.1:50 000 Landranger Series Sheet 187 Dorking & Reigate1:25 000 Explorer Series 134 Crawley & Horsham
135 Ashdown ForestCyclists
• Slow down, give way and leave plenty ofroom for walkers, horses and people withdisabilities.
• Cycle responsibly and carefully.• Do not surprise people – they might not
have heard or seen you.• Use a bell.
Walkers• Do not obstruct cyclists.• Keep dogs under proper control
(bylaws apply).• Clear up after your dog.
Horse Riders• Walk past other users.• Do not canter or gallop.
SundaysMonday-Saturday
7.00am to 8.00pm
L I N E O P E N F R O M
8.00am to 8.00pm
For all your local bus, coachand rail enquiries
Speckled Wood Butterfly
Primrose
Rowfant Station
TEXT PAGES 2004v5 12/12/05 16:31 Page 1
Station Hill
43
2
1
EAST
GR
INST
EADStanden
(National Trust)
ToSharpthorne
Felbridge
Copthorne
Kingscote
Station
A264
A22
B2110
TurnersH
illToHayw
ardsH
eath
Bluebell RailwayR
owfantCom
passesCorner
ToBalcombe
ToLingfieldToLondon
ToGodstone
ToTunbridgeW
ellsToLewes
B2036
ToA23Brighton
ToBrighton
CR
AW
LEY
Worth
A264
M23
Wallage Lane
Herontye D
riveImberhorne Lane
B2036
Luxford's Lane Bluebell Railway Extension
Craw
leyD
own
M
iswell W
ood
Misw
ell House
WorthlodgeForest
Worth Church
HundredAcres
Rowfant
BusinessCentre
Gullege
Wood
TilkhurstFarm
CrockshedW
ood
High
Grove
Turners Hill Road
Three
BridgesA22
A264
ToArdingly
KeepersCrossing
To Horsham
Church
Road
ToH
orley
Grange R
oad
Burleigh Way
Turners Hill Rd B 2028
Vicarage Rd
Hazel W
ay C
opse Close
Old Station C
lose
Kiln R
oad
Cob C
lose
Wo
od
land
Drive
Railw
ay Approach
West Street
High Street
Lewes Road
Beeching Way
Brooklands
W
ay
A22
Moat R
oad A264
Park Road
Forest Way
Ship Street
Country Park
Herontye D
rive
B2110
Grosvenor R
oad
A 2220
Station Hill
Balcombe Road
Turners Hill R
oad
TH
REE
BRID
GES
WO
RTH
Worth Park Ave
Close
Knepp
Spring Plat
The Pasture
Worth Road
Church
Road
Ro
wfa
nt
Statio
nT
he station
included a
passing loop,level crossingand
signalbox.T
he oldstation
stillsurvives.
St N
icho
las Ch
urch
,W
orth
A fine Saxon C
hurch dating fromthe tenth century.
It is an earlyexam
ple of
a cruciform
plan
which later becam
e the generallayout
throughout England.
AN
orman-looking northeast tow
erw
as added in 1871.
Worth W
ay
Forest Way C
ountry Park
Worth W
ay - Forest Way link
Worth W
ay Circular W
alks
National C
ycle Netw
ork Route
High W
eald A
rea of Outstanding N
atural Beauty
Parking
Public Telephone
Public House
Railw
ay Station
Church
KE
Y
3
O km
1 2
O m
ile 1
CR
AW
LE
Y
CR
AW
LE
YD
OW
NE
AS
T G
RIN
ST
EA
D
Fo
rest W
ayC
ou
ntry P
arkT
his linear Country Park passes
through the High W
eald Area of
Outstanding N
atural Beauty.
Craw
ley D
ow
n P
on
dC
onstructed in the mid nineteenth century as one of five
ornamental lakes on the T
iltwood Estate.T
he pond was
re-landscaped in the late 1970’s to form a local feature.
Gu
llege
A
private house
East G
rinste
ad H
igh S
tree
tA
very old and previously important m
arket town
boasting the longest line of medieval buildings in the
country.T
here are
many
interesting buildings
including St
Swithun’s
Church,
a very
prominent
landmark,and Sackville C
ollege.
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