By Claire Walter

Lockdown is back and so this means that some of the days out we had planned as ‘The Walter Ways’ are now on hold. I am therefore so thankful for our beautiful countryside. It’s good to get out and get walking in our local area when you can. We have so many places to choose from such as Blunts Wood, Ardingly showground (the road is great for the little ones on bikes and scooters) and Beech Hurst to name a few.

This time, I wanted to tell you about Bedelands Nature Reserve. It is in Burgess Hill so at the moment, this may not be deemed as local for some, but once restrictions are eased it is a wonderful place for you to get out and explore as it is a hidden gem. From the car park, you make your way into the woods to be instantly surrounded by so many different types of the trees.

Whilst walking through the woodland, be sure to look out for the wildlife, spot mushrooms hiding amongst the leaves, venture into the meadows and admire the ponds. As you wander further into the woods, you will hear the sounds of a waterfall in the distance. There are maps around the nature reserve to help you plan your visit and find the waterfall too.

The waterfall itself is always a wonderful sight. The last time we went, we happened to arrive there just as heavy rain poured down onto us, but this just added to the excitement with extra muddy puddles for the girls to jump into. It also meant the waterfall was a little more powerful than usual. Quite exciting to watch. A contrast to the flat, calm water in Mill Pond that leads into the waterfall itself. There is a small walkway which takes you across the top of the waterfall, so that the water gushes below you and you can look across the pond too. A breath-taking view all around.

We love to take time out here exploring, and if you have not been yet, hopefully we have inspired you to check out the wonderful Bedelands Nature Reserve when you can too.

For more ideas on places to visit, do follow us, @thewalterways, on Instagram and Facebook.