But you'll hear ,and perhaps see, a green woodpecker laughing at you; watch the bulldozing work of wood ants repairing their nests, and wonder if, in the a blink of an eye, you actually saw a lizard sunning itself in a log...

Selwyn's Wood is a little bit of nature set aside by Sussex Wildlife Trust for your pleasure. One of nearly 40 reserves throughout the two counties, I have the privilege to be the voluntary manager for the wood and regard it as Heathfield and Districts's special reserve. I and my hard-working "green team" who look after it are very pleased to have people walking round because, as the Trust says, it wants to help them to understand, enjoy and take action to conserve the wildlife.

Spring time is the best time to see the flowers, like bluebells and wood anemones, but I also take great pleasure in the purple vista of our little heath in the late summer, and at various times when the streams bubble and ripple by. We've got tall trees, young trees, old trees, fallen-down trees, coppice trees and shrubby trees. There's brambly bits, jungly bits, muddy bits, good-pull-up bits and marshy bits. It's all there, but come quietly and you may even see a dormouse!

John Hall © 2001