About Buchan Country Park
Although it is little more than 2
miles to Buchan Country Park from Crawley town centre as the
crow flies, it's easy to leave behind the hustle and bustle by
exploring the 170 acres of woodland, heath and meadow.
Buchan Country Park has won the Green Flag Award which
recognises the best green spaces in the UK.
What’s at Buchan Country Park?
An ideal place for
walking, watching wildlife or enjoying a picnic, Buchan
Country Park has plenty to offer. Lose yourself amongst the birch
trees, wander around the heath and lakes or linger in the
meadow. Enjoy this special piece of Sussex countryside and the
wildlife that calls it home. Species to look out for include
dragonflies, birds such as nightjars and great-crested grebes and
reptiles, including adders and grass snakes.
Our sculptures, which are dotted around the
park, are a popular attraction for families. Enjoy
finding owls, fish and a giant deer, all carved from wind blown
trees. Throughout the year visitors can enjoy a varied events programme, including many activities for
children.
Buchan Country Park also has a Countryside Centre with
information about the park, local produce, and seasonal coppice
products on sale.
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How to get there
Interactive map
To find Buchan Country Park, launch our
interactive iMap (opens
in a new window), select 'British National Grid' from the search
menu and enter TQ245347 into the search box (top left).
Walking
The park is on the Broadfield and Bewbush
circular walk, one of the Crawley
Greenways walking routes.
By bike
Cycle racks are provided outside the
Countryside Centre. Bicycles are left there at owner's risk. Care
should be taken when cycling along the busy A2220 and A264. You can
use
the West Sussex Cycle Journey Planner to plan your
ride.
By bus
The nearest bus stop to Buchan Country Park is
at Bewbush shops, ½ mile from the entrance. The park is signposted
from the bus stops at Dorsten Square Bewbush and Broadfield Barton.
Metrobus
Fastway route 10 runs a frequent daily service to these stops
from Crawley town centre.
Information about other routes is available
from Traveline.
By train
The nearest train station to Buchan Park is Ifield. From here,
you can enjoy a 1½ mile walk to reach the park along the signposted
Crawley
Greenway.
Rail timetable information from National
Rail Information.
By car
Buchan Country Park is located off the westbound carriageway of
the A2220.
From the M23, leave at Junction 11, Pease
Pottage, and follow the A264 for Horsham. At the second roundabout
the park is signposted. Turn right onto the A2220, continue to the
next roundabout and follow the signs to the park entrance (Grid ref
TQ245347).
From Crawley, follow the signs for Horsham and
the park is signed at the roundabout ¼ mile before the park
entrance.
Ample car parking for 80 cars is available from:
- 8.00am - 6.00pm - 1 November 2011 to 31 March
2012
- 8.00am - 8.00pm - 1 April 2012 to 31 May 2012
- 8.00am - 9.00pm - 1 June 2012 to 31 August
2012
- 8.00am - 8.00pm - 1 September 2012 to 31 October
2012
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Getting around
There is a network of hard-surfaced
paths which ensures easy walking in all weather conditions. Much of
the park allows good access for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
Download the Easy access trail information.
Supporting document
There is a permanent 2 mile novice Orienteering Course. You may
purchase a map for £1.50 from the Countryside Centre.
Dog walking
Buchan Country Park is a haven for quiet recreation and is
popular with local dog walkers.
- Dogs are welcome but please keep them under close control.
- Owners are obliged to clear up any mess their dogs leave. Dog
bins are provided for this purpose.
- Island Pond has a Dog Dip, a designated area where dogs may
swim without disturbing other users and wildlife.
- Please keep dogs out of Douster Pond to avoid disturbing
wildlife and other users.
- Please help us keep the wild garden a dog-free area.
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Facilities
Countryside Centre
The Countryside Centre provides information and displays about
the country park and wider countryside. It is open Sunday afternoon
and bank holidays and at other times as staffing levels
permit.
Toilets
A toilet block outside the centre includes facilities for the
disabled, and can be accessed by a RADAR key. A key can usually be
collected from the adjacent park office, normally staffed during
office hours. Alternatively users can obtain a key from the
national RADAR
network for £4.00.
Refreshments
The Countryside Centre sells a variety of items including hot
and cold drinks, locally-made ice cream and a range of local
produce. You are welcome to bring a picnic. There are picnic areas
by Douster Pond, Target Hill and in the Wild
Garden.
The nearest shops are at Dorsten Square, Bewbush, just under ½
mile from the entrance.
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History
In medieval times the area now known as
Buchan Country Park was heavily used for wood extraction and
grazing for sheep. As a result, the original woods became
heathland.
On Thursday 31 July 1823, William Cobbett set out from Worth at
5 o'clock to ride to Horsham. His route took him through what,
today, is Buchan Country Park. At that time the land belonged to
Lord Erskine who had named the area Buchan Hill after his father,
the Earl of Buchan. In his book, Rural Rides,
Cobbett recalls his journey.
"From Worth you come to Crawley along some pretty good land; you
then turn to the left and go 2 miles along the road; then you
turn to the right, and go over 6 of the worst miles in
England, which terminates but a few hundred yards before you enter
Horsham. The first 2 of these miserable miles go through the
estate of Lord Erskine. It was bare heath with here and there, in
the better parts of it, some scrubby birch. It has been, in part,
planted with fir trees, which are as ugly as the heath was; and, in
short, it is a most villainous tract."
While Cobbett clearly saw the heath as wasteland, it is seen
today as an important and declining habitat,
which conservation organisations put much effort into
restoring. Since 1992, 13 hectares of heath have been restored at
Buchan Country Park.
In Victorian times, the park was owned by a Mr Saillard, a
businessman whose wealth came from the sale of playing cards, and
ostrich feathers for ladies hats. Mr Saillard built a grand mansion
(now Cottesmore school).
Not far from Buchan Hill was a large property called
Woldhurstlea, which stood in what is now Gossops Green housing
estate. Nerina Shute, who grew up in the house, wrote a book called
Come into the Sunlight, the story of her Edwardian
mother. In the book Nerina recalls a visit to Buchan Hill to visit
the Saillards with her mother. She writes that this was done only
at rare intervals, with chilly politeness, and usually on a rainy
day!
The Saillard family was responsible for establishing both Island
and Douster ponds.
Buchan Park
today
West Sussex County Council purchased the park on 31 July 1969,
146 years to the day after William Cobbett noted "I have seldom
travelled over 8 miles so well calculated to fill the mind with
painful reflections!".
The Country Park was officially opened 20 May 1982.
Both Rural Rides and Come into the
Sunlight are available from West Sussex County Council's
Library Service.
How we look after the site
Buchan Country Park is owned and managed
by West Sussex County Council. It is designated a Site of Nature
Conservation Importance (SNCI) and is of national importance for
its dragonfly populations. In 1985 the lakes and surrounds were
designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
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