EXPLORE
Nightingale Lane & Mill Pond
The best place to see Kingfisher and hear Nightingales in spring
Wetland Habitats
Nightingale Lane is probably our most used entrance route onto the Steyning Downland, and it’s called ‘Nightingale Lane’ for good reason.
The lane runs parallel to the course of the Tanyard Stream, which flows directly out of the ground at the head of a gyhll (a steep gully) in Steyning Rifle Range. About 500 years ago, several dams and weirs were built across the stream to control the flow of water for two water mills in Steyning. These created a series of ponds, which kept the surrounding land wet for most of the year. By the early 19th century, the ponds were being used to feed a tannery in Tanyards Lane, Steyning.
A postcard showing one of the ponds in the early 20th century
What You Can See
The old mill ponds still exist today. Over the centuries the land around has developed into dense, wet woodland with Sallow, Hazel and Hawthorn, creating a perfect habitat for birds. Listen for singing Nightingales and Cetti’s Warbler in spring and in winter, the distant whistle of Teal on the lower pond.
At the upper millpond, you will see native aquatic plants, including Branched Bur-reed, Starwort, Pond Water-crowfoot and Water Plantain. This pond also has huge numbers of Palmate Newt, which are sometimes visible by looking over the dam wall. Water birds such as Grey Wagtail and Moorhen can be seen all year round, and if you sit still, you may even see a Kingfisher.
Nightingale
Kingfisher
Water Crowfoot
Grey Wagtail
What We Have Done
Inside the wet scrubland, we’ve planted a small copse of disease-resistant Elm trees, to compensate for the loss of our English Elm to Dutch Elm Disease during the 1970s. In the wettest areas, we have planted some young Black Poplar, a rare native tree. These were donated to us by Wakehurst Place, Kew.
The Upper Pond has undergone several stages of restoration, most notably in 2022, when we dredged out tonnes of silt which had built up over many years. We also took the difficult decision to partly fence the pond, to prevent dogs off the lead from damaging this fragile habitat. Today the pond supports a wealth of wildlife.
Our Future Plans
Local people miss having easy access to the upper millpond, so we would very much like to create a new ‘amenity pond’ for pond dipping and dog splash access in the Big Picnic Field nearby.
Meanwhile near the pond, we are creating a new children’s bushcraft area and at the pond itself, we are actively working with Wakehurst Place, Kew to reintroduce the very rare Starfruit plant (Damasonium alisma).
At Nightingale Lane, we plan to coppice small areas of the wet scrub habitat to encourage new, dense growth at ground level. This will encourage Nightingale to nest and ensure that the habitat remains structurally diverse.
How You Can Help
As a registered charity, we depend upon the support of our Friends and donors. There are many 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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