Wednesday 25th June 2025
Day of Discovery
at
Brandy Hole Copse
(event in the Festival of Chichester)
(This webpage was first published on 26th January 2025.)
Page under development by the Friends of Brandy Hole Copse...
... please bear with us, whilst we work on arrangements for the day.
In the meantime, for latest news and essential information, visit the Friends' Home page. If you're inspired to volunteer, there are information and forms here. We would love to include more information about Copse wildlife on this fledgling webpage too.
The life of a pond or woodland never stands still, and the need for folk to take an interest in the Copse and its wildlife persists as challenges evolve. To join the Friends of Brandy Hole Copse as a member (annual subscription £5) please complete our Membership Form (currently available as a Word or pdf file here ).
The Friends of Brandy Hole Copse invite you to join one or more of a series of walks and activities looking at the life of Chichester’s only designated Local Nature Reserve. From an early morning bird walk to pond dipping or an evening stroll, join a planned activity or find new ways to explore by yourself. Our Programme explains what's on offer, and whether you need to book.
Programme
07.45am
| Time | Activity | Led by | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:45 | Bird walk | Mark (Chichester District Council) | Numbers limited (booking required) |
| 11:00 | tbc | tbc | tbc |
| 15:30 | Pond dipping | Oliver (Chichester District Council) | Drop-in |
| 18:30 | Walk | Oliver (Chichester District Council) | Numbers limited (booking required) |
07:45 Bird Walk
(ends circa 09.30)
BOOKING REQUIRED (numbers limited to XX)
Meet at:
[What]
[Host]
[Terrain]
15:30 Pond Dipping
(ends circa 17:00)
DROP-IN
(time slots will be limited, if busy, and self-led activities available nearby)
Meet at:
[What]
[Host]
[Terrain]
Our Venue
Brandy Hole Copse is some 15 acres (6.5 hectares) of managed woodland, lying along the south side of Brandy Hole Lane, on the north-western outskirts of Chichester and in the management of Chichester District Council. Its character includes part of a massive bank and ditch system thought to date from the late Iron Age and now designated a Scheduled Monument, an area of sweet chestnut coppicing, and 3 small ponds.
We will be using the following Meet Points:
...
...
...
Please note that there are no refreshments nor toilet facilities on site. The nearest public toilets are at Northgate car park. [details to be added]
Accessibility
The steep banks of the Scheduled Monument can make walking tricky, if you are not sure-footed, and some areas of paths get extremely soggy. Access between Centurion Way eastwards to Brandy Hole Lane is a cycle path, level and always reasonable underfoot. There is no cycling in other parts of the Copse. There are 2 paths leading westwards from Centurion Way, one along the top of the Scheduled Monument bank and one effectively in the ditch formed when the bank was made and enlarged by 18th century gravel workings; the former has [...] steps; the latter is level until a bank at the west end, although ground can be soft and sometimes flooded. A long-fallen tree spans the lower level path further west, which most people will need to duck under to pass [height].
How to find Brandy Hole Copse
Access the Copse on foot from Brandy Hole Lane, Centurion Way (cycle and footway), Bristol Gardens or from Old Broyle Road.
There is limited on-road parking on Brandy Hole Lane just off Old Broyle Road (no space for on-road parking along Brandy Hole Lane north of the Copse) - approximate What3Words location resides.sensitive.swing and an off-road car park nearby with entrance roughly at ruler.fairly.perplexed that has been provided as part of the major housing development to the south (Minerva Heights).
[Add info. on cycle racks.]
Friends' Privacy Policy
This may be downloaded to read (see right).
Please note that interactions through this website are subject to Chichester Tree Wardens' Privacy Policy. Communications intended for the Friends of Brandy Hole Copse will be passed on to the Friends by Chichester Tree Wardens.
To email the Friends, please use fobhc@treesinchi.org .