Sunset from West Mead Hide (Photo: Anna Allum)
Changes to car parking at Pulborough Brooks from 31 January 2022
Pulborough Brooks is such a special place for people and for wildlife. Whether you enjoy listening to singing nightingales, watching thousands of ducks from the hides or admiring the fungi on the wooded heath, our work here protects this wild space for wildlife and people alike to enjoy in a whole host of ways.
Work maintaining and protecting the special landscape and wildlife of Pulborough Brooks, so that it is enjoyable for all, takes up a lot of a time, effort and resources, and we couldn't do this without your help. That’s why we are so grateful to everyone who supports us here at the reserve and the many who join up as members to help us continue our work.
But we can’t protect the landscape or wildlife of Pulborough Brooks without your help and from 31 January 2022, we’ll be making some changes. We will be introducing parking charges of £3 per day for non-members at Pulborough Brooks.
The income generated through the charges will not only support the vital conservation work we carry out here to help wildlife, but it will also contribute to the ongoing cost of running the facilities visitors use at the reserve, including the play & picnic area, toilets, café, trails, hides and car parking areas.
At a glance, here are the details of the parking charge and what it covers:
Parking charge from 31 January (£3 per car) includes:
Parking is FREE to RSPB members and blue badge holders.
If you are just stopping briefly to shop with us you will find our designated ‘short stay retail’ parking in the closest section of the car park, where you can park for free for up to 20 minutes.
Additional entry fees for wetland nature trail and hides
RSPB members: FREE
(please show your membership card at the welcome hut)
Non-members
Adult: £4
Child (5 – 17 years): £2
(first child and under 5s: FREE)
Student (with a valid NUS card); £2.50
Carer: FREE
We’ll be using ‘Pay by Phone’ to collect parking charges. Alternatively, our team will be available at the welcome hut during opening hours (currently 10am-4pm daily) to assist, take payment and let visitors know the latest wildlife sightings.
If you would like to download the Pay by Phone app ahead of your visit you can see the details on the poster below:
Parking and nature trail entry will continue to be free for RSPB members. When you arrive, please show your membership card to the team at our welcome hut where we’ll take a note of your car registration number. If you like to visit earlier in the day before the welcome hut opens pop your RSPB membership card face down on your dashboard.
As a charity, we must maximise our opportunities to raise income wherever possible – something which has been especially difficult during the past couple of years. Your financial support allows us to continue with our charitable purpose of conserving wildlife and habitats, while maintaining our visitor facilities and providing excellent, inspiring experiences for our visitors here at Pulborough Brooks.
We have recently made improvements to our heathland nature trail to ensure it can be enjoyed year-round and will be continuing to set up seasonal trails such as our autumn fungi trail. In spring we’ll be opening a new natural play trail for families which explores the woodland.
For local people who access the nature reserve on foot, by bike or by bus, there will be no parking charge and access to the Visitor Centre facilities, heathland trail and play area will be free, however donations are always very welcome. If local visitors wish to go onto the wetland nature trail and use the hides they will need to pay the entry charge.
We’re looking forward to a year of beautiful birds, incredible insects and wonderful wildflowers and can’t wait to experience it with you. For the latest news and updates from Pulborough Brooks, follow us on Facebook and/or Twitter
Thank you for your support. If you’re thinking about becoming an RSPB member you can do so from £5 a month; please come and chat to the team at the Welcome hut or you can visit our RSPB Membership webpage for more information.