Tilgate Forest

Wood, Forest in Sussex Mid Sussex

England

Tilgate Forest

Broadfield Stadium Built by Crawley Council in the early 1990s to re-home Crawley Town Football Club. One of the best non-league stadia in the UK — Broadfield Stadium Credit: Michael of Crawley

Tilgate Forest is a sprawling woodland located in Sussex, England. Covering an area of approximately 400 acres, it is a popular destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The forest is part of the wider Tilgate Park, which also includes a lake, gardens, and a nature reserve.

The woodland is predominantly made up of a diverse range of tree species, including oak, beech, pine, and birch. These trees create a dense canopy, providing shade and shelter for a variety of wildlife. Visitors can explore the forest through a network of well-maintained trails, which wind their way through the trees and offer glimpses of the natural beauty that abounds.

Tilgate Forest is home to a rich array of flora and fauna. In spring, the forest floor becomes a carpet of bluebells, creating a breathtaking sight. Birdwatchers can observe species such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, and tawny owls, while lucky visitors may even spot deer and foxes roaming freely in their natural habitat.

The forest also boasts several recreational facilities for visitors. There are picnic areas, where families can enjoy a meal surrounded by the tranquil setting. Additionally, there is an adventure playground for children, offering opportunities for fun and exploration.

Overall, Tilgate Forest offers a peaceful and picturesque setting, making it an ideal destination for those seeking solace in nature or looking to engage in outdoor activities. With its diverse wildlife and stunning scenery, it continues to captivate the hearts of visitors from near and far.

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Tilgate Forest Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.085247/-0.17947465 or Grid Reference TQ2733. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Broadfield Stadium

Built by Crawley Council in the early 1990s to re-home Crawley Town Football Club. One of the best non-league stadia in the UK

Michael of Crawley

Thomas Bennett Community College

Former buildings of the secondary school named for Sir Thomas Bennett, Chairman of Crawley New Town Development Corporation. The school was opened in 1959 and rebuilt on the same campus in 2004-5. The buildings shown were demolished in the summer of 2005.

Michael of Crawley

Tilgate Lake, Tilgate Park, Crawley

Tilgate Park is the largest public park in Crawley. Before the development of the Crawley New Town, it was the home of the Campbell family. Malcolm Campbell developed and tested his designs of the "Bluebird" world water speed record holding boats on this lake in the 1930s and 40s.

Pete Chapman

Tilgate Parade, Tilgate, Crawley

Tilgate was one of Crawley New Town's original 12 neighbourhoods. Each neighbourhood had its own shops, pub, church etc. Tilgate Parade still commands a position at the centre of everyday life for many people in this neighbourhood (built mid-1950s).

Pete Chapman

Tilgate Golf Course, Crawley

Grid square TQ2834 is dominated by most of an 18 hole golf course. This fine course is popular and the view here shows three ladies enjoying a round on a Friday afternoon.

Pete Chapman

Tilgate Forest: natural and un-natural trees

Tilgate Forest dominates this square. The proximity to the M23 and high vantage point have led a mobile phone company to locate a mast here. It's supposed to blend in with the other flora, but I've never seen another tree like this round here!

Pete Chapman

M23 Motorway looking NE from footbridge between Tilgate Golf Course and Tilgate Forest

The M23 cuts across the S of grid square TQ2834. The motorway acts as a boundary between Tilgate Golf Course (to the N) and Tilgate Forest (to the S). The view here is that from a footbridge that crosses over the motorway. In the distance, the edge of the Maidenbower neighbourhood of Crawley can be seen (centre of photo, to left of motorway).

Pete Chapman

Orienteering in Tilgate Forest, Nr Crawley, West Sussex

This Square is dominated by Tilgate Forest, a public access forest managed by the Forestry Commission. The photo shows the mature mixed woodland that makes up most of the forest area. This part is predominantly broadleaved deciduous trees, with the odd coniferous example and a light scattering of rhododendron thickets. The high canopy is quite dense and doesn't let much heavy vegetation take hold. One of several popular woodland areas in the vicinity for orienteering. The event here was a Christmas Score event staged by Southdowns Orienteers.

Pete Chapman

Ditch Bend in a Shallow Re-Entrant in a Coniferous Wooded Part of Tilgate Forest, Nr Crawley, West Sussex

This view shows typical vegetation in much of this part of Tilgate Forest: pine trees (with the odd invading birch) with a fairly clean forest floor. The trees tend to form quite a dense canopy, preventing much from growing beneath them. The ditch is part of the drainage network.

Pete Chapman

Pease Pottage Services

At the (current) end of the M23, Junction 11. Operated by Moto.

Pete Chapman

Corn Fields, Pease Pottage

A very summery rural site. Ripening corn in this large field, which covers the N side of this grid square. Much of the rural sussex terrain is patches of trees interspersed by fields of various crops. Tilgate Forest can be seen in the far distance and Bensonshill Wood is on the right. High voltage electricity transmission cross the field (the pylons are just visible). View taken from the old A23 road between Pease Pottage and Handcross, looking E.

Pete Chapman

The old Brighton Road at Pease Pottage

Now replaced by the M23, this section of the old A23 is a cul-de-sac.

Bob Jones

Parish Lane, near New Buildings Farm, Pease Pottage, Crawley, West Sussex

A quiet "no through" road on the south side of Tilgate forest and the N edge of this grid square. The route itself continues (in unmetalled form) as a bridleway once it's crossed the London-Brighton Railway. The barn on the skyline is part of New Buildings Farm on the S side of the road. View taken looking E.

Pete Chapman

1990/2000s Housing Estate - Chapman Road, Maidenbower Neighbourhood of Crawley, West Sussex

The newest of Crawleys "Neighbourhood" areas. This part of Maidenbower was built on the site of Worth Forest and spreads into the NW corner of this grid square. As was the fashion at the time, the houses on this housing estate are built to appear slightly different from their immediate neighbours. Amazing how many detached/semi-detached houses can fit in such a small area! The photo shows the street name sign in front of the car. All the street name signs in Crawley are of this general pattern (see supplemental photo for details).

Pete Chapman

Chapman Road, Maidenbower - general pattern of street name signs in Crawley.

Sign for Chapman Road, next to Chapman's bike! The "neighbourhood" identity of the various parts of Crawley is emphasised by all of the street name signs having the name of the neighbourhood included on the bottom right corner of the sign (as shown in the picture). Additionally, each neighbourhood has its own colour for the band across the centre of the sign, Maidenbower uses a blue colour. Other area colours include: Northgate (green); Manor Royal Industrial Estate (Black - "Industrial").

Pete Chapman

1990/2000s Housing. Another view of Chapman Road, Crawley, West Sussex

This short road (150m long) has a variety of housing - all helping to make the high packing density feel less oppressive. These houses are in the middle section of the road and are generally bigger than those shown near the street name sign. The origins of the area being a forest are evident in this view, with a couple of very large and mature trees left in situ to add interest to the area.

Pete Chapman

Tilgate lake, Tilgate park, Crawley

Photo taken facing roughly south east showing what used to be called (maybe it still is?) Campbells lake after the former world water speed record holder Sir Donald Campbell, who used to keep his boat here.

Chris Plunkett

Plaque Commemorating Malcolm Campbell, Tilgate Lake (Campbell's Lake), Tilgate Park, Crawley

The Campbells used to live in the large house (now gone) of the then private estate. The large lake was used as a testing ground for some of Sir Malcolm Campbell's water borne speed vehicles.

Pete Chapman

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Tilgate Forest is located at Grid Ref: TQ2733 (Lat: 51.085247, Lng: -0.17947465)

Administrative County: West Sussex

District: Mid Sussex

Police Authority: Sussex