Reedbed and Fen

Filsham reedbed view
Filsham Reedbed

The Country Park contains two reedbeds; one at Bulverhythe at the Southern end of the park, and the other at Filsham at the Eastern end. Filsham Reedbed is the largest in East Sussex (19 hectares or 47 acres) and as well as lying within the Combe Haven Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) it is designated a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and is managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust.

Common Reed Phragmites australis dominates both reedbeds although open water and ditches within the Filsham Reedbed are richer in plant life, supporting unusual plants like Frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Water Violet Hottonia palustris and the insectivorous Bladderwort Utricularia. Two areas of mixed tall fen, one to the north and one to the south of Filsham reedbed, contain Common Reed, Reed Sweet Grass Glyceria maxima, Gipsywort Lycopus europaeus, Yellow Flag Iris pseudacorus and Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria.

Reedbed pool
Open water in Filsham Reedbed

Alder Alnus glutinosa and Sallow Salix cinerea fringe parts of the reed bed and the tall fen community.

The reed and fen areas are valuable for breeding, wintering and passage birds. Breeding birds include Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Bearded Tit, Water Rail, Moorhen and Coot. Filsham reedbed is an important stopping-off point for migrant flocks of warblers and swallows and also for rarer species such as Bittern and Marsh Harrier

Footpaths - 3 July

All paths are now dry but some of the less walked paths are getting a bit overgrown, so shorts may not be a good idea.

Report overgrown rights of way to East Sussex and other paths to the Friends of Combe Valley.

Latest News

Squacco Heron

Two rare herons have been found in the valley recently. The Squacco Heron and the Black-crowned Night Heron visiting us are well out of their usual summer haunts.

New on this website

August 2023 - a set of new pages describing some of the more common flowering plants has been added to the "Wildlife" section of the site.