EXPLORE
The Big Picnic Field & Orchard
Where big picnics happen!
Picnics in the Big Picnic Field
The Big Picnic Field is the first field you come to at the end of Nightingale Lane. In past years we’ve held an annual ‘Big Picnic’ there, where up to 600 people enjoyed a fun, country fair for all the family. Check our events page for more information.
There is also a log circle, where visitors can sit and rest. The fenced area next to it is mostly managed for us by Steyning Community Orchard, who have planted a variety of old English fruit trees. You are very welcome to pick and sample the produce for free! Next to it is a small dog-free area, where young children can explore with their parents and guardians.
The Big Picnic field is grazed by cattle for a period each year to keep the grass growth under control.
The Big Picnic Sack Race
What You Can See
LLook out for reptiles, including Adder which sometimes bask on the hedge bank. These rare snakes are under threat from extinction and so we are doing our best to look after them. Please do not walk your dog close to the bank.
In spring there is a profusion of Wild Plum flowers on the small trees here – their yellow fruits are delicious in late summer.
Wild Plum Blossom
The Wild Play Area Log Seating
Baby Grass Snake
Building The WIllow Dome
Planting Elms in The Big Picnic Field
What We Have Done
We’ve been grazing the Big Picnic Field with cattle for several years and this has encouraged new wild flowers to colonise. Visit in June and you’ll see a profusion of Red Clover, which is a wonderful nectar source for several species of bee, for example.
In 2020 we planted seven disease-resistant Elm trees in the Big Picnic Field. These were kindly donated by the South Downs National Park Authority. They are the product of decades of careful trials to find Elm crosses that will not succumb to Dutch Elm Disease. Although the leaves look different to our classic English Elm, they support a very similar community of invertebrates, including the scarce White Letter Hairstreak butterfly.
The Wild Play Area is regularly maintained and in 2022, we carried out a traditional hedge laying day. Hedge laying is a technique stretching back many hundreds of years. It ensures hedges are dense and stock-proof, without the need for barbed wire fencing. It also produces excellent habitat for nesting birds, hedgehogs and other wildlife.
Our Future Plans
We would like to create a new amenity pond in the Big Picnic Field, but this is subject to available funding. We would also like to improved the Wild Play Area and start a new toddler group there for parents and young children.
How You Can Help
As a registered charity, we depend upon the support of our Friends, and donors. There are several ways to support us, and help wildlife thrive.
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Volunteer With Us
Everyone is welcome to become involved, regardless of skills, age or experience. Discover the many ways you can lend a hand.
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