Stoneywish Nature Reserve, Park and Petting Zoo in Sussex. Hassocks

Do your kids love a walk in the woods? Looking for a fun day out in sussex during the holidays? (where its not packed to the rafters!) then Stoneywish Nature Reserve in Hassocks (a few mins drive from Ditchling) is well worth a look.

Finding somewhere with picnic tables, animals, a park and enough open space to tire out even the most energetic of children in the Sussex area is hard over the holiday season, especially if you don’t want to go somewhere that is either wall to wall with children or costs the earth to get into. 

This Nature reserve is tagged onto a caravan park (can’t comment on it – we only went for the park)
There is a good walk from the ample car park to the heart of the nature reserve, decent toilet facilities and a small shop (cold drinks and snacks only) on site and a petting zoo with Sheep, Pigs, goats, chickens and a Pony (others also I’m sure but it was a hot day and I can only comment on what was out in the open whilst we were there)

With a large pond (I believe there are 2 but we only found the first one) stocked with fish and hungry ducks, this place offers a chance to stretch your legs and let your children off the leash. 
The play equipment was well maintained, if not perhaps a little home made however my 2 boys loved it, tires to jump through, rope swings aplenty, masses of open green space and a very reasonable entry price. What’s not to love about a place where children can explore their surroundings unrestricted. I’ll definitely be going back​.
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