REWILDING
Wylie’s Field
A wildlife sanctuary for some of our rarest birds and reptiles
Wylie’s Field – a wildlife sanctuary
Wylie’s Field is one of three sanctuary areas on the Steyning Downland, where we are encouraging wildlife to thrive, free of disturbance by people. The field is named after Private Leslie Thomas Wylie, who lost his life to friendly fire, while training there for the Home Guard in May 1944.
Years later, Wylie’s Field was ploughed for growing agricultural crops, before being put into an environmental scheme. Wild species gradually began to colonise and in 2022, the field was kindly donated to the Steyning Downland Scheme by the Wiston Estate.
Whinchat sometimes stop off at Wylie’s Field during their migration
Bee orchids have already colonised
A view over Wylie’s Field during hedge planting
What You Can See
Today Wylie’s Field has already been colonised by a wealth of wildlife, including a large population of Adder, wild flowers such as Smooth Tare, Grass Vetchling and Bee Orchid, and nesting and feeding birds, including Whitethroat and Whinchat.
Adder
Grass Vetchling
Common Whitethroat
Smooth Tare
What We Have Done
Some wildlife is particularly averse to disturbance by people, and so we have set aside Wylie’s Field as a minimal intervention area, with restricted access. In 2023 we were given a grant by the South Downs National Park Authority to fence the field. Thanks to a donation of some hedge plants from the Woodland Trust, the following winter we were able to work with 6th form students from Steyning Grammar School to plant a wildlife hedge along our boundary. We also put up signs explaining the field’s value to wildlife.
Our Future Plans
To prevent Wylie’s Field from gradually turning to dense scrub and then species-poor scrubby woodland, we plan to lightly graze it with Dexter cattle, in partnership with a local grazier and our team of volunteer ‘Lookerers’. Dexters are tough little cattle, originally bred to survive the windswept grasslands of western Ireland. They are a particularly docile breed, and yet they are very capable of staying outside all year round. Dexters also browse scrub, as well as graze grass, and can live on nutrient-poor grassland where modern breeds would soon loose condition.
With our trained teams of volunteer surveyors, we also plan to monitor the plants, birds and reptiles which live at Wylie’s Field, to find out how the habitat changes over the years.
How You Can Help
As a registered charity, the Steyning Downland Scheme depends upon the support of our Friends and donors. There are many ways to support us, and help wildlife to 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 to our conservation work.
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