Aspect Nature Reserve and Mount Wood

Aspect Nature Reserve & Mount Wood are two sites in West Sussex, near Gatwick, which are actively managed to maximise ecological biodiversity. They are owned by Aspect Land Management Ltd, which is itself 100% owned by a Private Trust.

Aspect Nature Reserve

Mount Wood

Aspect Nature Reserve is a 24 acre site, purchased in 2024 after more than 30 years of intensive sheep-grazing. It boasts several interesting features that make it a particularly exciting site for biodiversity restoration efforts:

The site is crossed by Mans Brook, which feeds into the River Mole (and subsequently into the Thames), via a man-made straight-line trench. This segment of Mans Brook will be widened to create an area of flooded woodland, rich in Black Poplar and Willow. This will slow the flow in the Brook, both preserving the downstream areas from flooding and creating important habitats for a wide variety of plants and animals.
A 66 tree orchard has been established, with 44 different species of fruit trees (apples, damsons, plums, cherries, gages, pears etc.) and complete with a dedicated bee-hive area.
Working with the Woodland Trust, we have established five separate designs of Roundels to showcase different management techniques, ranging from traditional hazel coppice to wildflower meadows.
A large pond, featuring an island to encourage bird life, will be constructed in late 2025 The pond’s edges will be designed to provide easy access for both grazing sheep and local wildlife .
Two separate stretches of dense, multi-species hedgerow (3-5 metres wide) have been planted. Notably, we are reinstating a hedgerow which was grubbed out in 1959, thereby restoring some of the native rural architecture on the site.
An arboretum with 21 different types of native UK tree species is being established, with a central arc of gabion-seats to provide the perfect outdoor classroom for visiting school children.

Mount Wood is a 12 acre area of well-established woodland, including some ancient woodland, located 400m away from Aspect Nature Reserve.

Mount Wood is a classic deciduous English woodland, rich in Oaks, Hazel, Ash and Hornbeam.

It features several seasonal brooks which feed into a small pond which was established 3 years ago with the support of Sussex Wildlife Trust. There is an East-West ‘ride’ across the site, which provides a vital corridor of light for the local flora and fauna.