Dragons Green circular

By Eddie Start

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Images of a flying, fire-breathing, slimy reptile could not be further from the reality that is the tranquil community of Dragons Green, set a few hundred yards from the bustling A272 road and just over a mile west of the main Worthing to London road.

Down this quiet lane, leading to more small settlements, are a mixture of undulating Wealden tracks and woodland that are wet and boggy in winter months but, as spring begins to take hold, become set to reveal an exciting display of new life and freshness that lift the spirit of all who venture out to explore.

1.At the first bend in the narrow Dragons Lane, just after the last walled bungalow on the right and before Well Cottage on the left, take the signed bridleway to the right through a gate and into a field. Go left along the field edge for 350 yards and turn left at a four-way junction, on the enclosed bridleway, passing by Renche’s Cottage, which is away to the right.

At a three-way junction in 450 yards turn left onto a footpath, walking along the right field-edge towards the obvious woodland ahead.

Do not enter the woods but turn right over a plank bridge. Walk across the top of a field, keeping to the left hedgeline, and descend to a left field corner.

Cross a plank bridge and climb up through woodland. Walk past a derelict farm building in a small meadow, passing over a crossing bridleway, to arrive at Trawler’s Farm.

2.Continue to the end of the farm buildings and at a junction of tracks, with a small barn ahead, turn right. Follow the descending path which veers to the left and arrives at a fork in the track.

Take the left branch beneath trees, heading for a metal bridleway gate. Continue along the next right field-edge to the top right corner, turn left to a midway gate in 75 yards and then turn right to enter Middle Wood.

The path climbs for 400 yards through the woods to a sometimes very muddy junction.

Turn left for a few yards, then take the signed bridleway on the right that approaches dwellings at Birchwood Farm. At the end of an enclosed path go left on a metalled drive and at a junction in a few yards turn right, passing in front of Birchwood Cottages, then veer left, with a small pond on the right, and continue along the drive.

In 500 yards, just after an S-bend, with an entrance to The Chase on the left, take the signed footpath which drops to the left.

3.The path drops steeply over rough ground, follows a left field edge and descends steps to cross a bridge. Climb out, go over a plank bridge to a field and head for paddocks at Marlpost Farm.

Cross the paddocks to the roadside and turn right up the road for 100 yards.

Take the signed rising bridleway on the left to a minor road in 500 yards. Do not descend to the road but immediately turn sharp left on the signed bridleway, known as Crookhorn Lane.

There is now a three-quarters of a mile stroll, on a wide track, which is a real springtime delight. This is probably a remnant of one of the old Wealden droving roads, used for centuries to transfer animals to summer pastures or market and for country people to go about their business.

For 21st Century country lovers there is a worrying planning application to turn this track into a byway for off-road vehicles, quad-bikes and other vehicles, turning a cherished part of Sussex countryside into a rutted quagmire, destroying valuable flora and dispersing wildlife.

After half a mile, at the charming Crookhorn Farm, pass a corrugated steel vehicle shed, maintaining direction for a further quarter of a mile to a signed, four-way woodland track junction.

4.Turn right on the bridleway for 500 yards, taking care not to overshoot a four-way junction. Take the left footpath through a glade of trees into a field.

Cross the field, along the right edge, pass through an opening on the right and immediately turn left.

Walk down the left field-edge to a metal gate, at the field corner, into wooded Lackenhurst Furzefield. Maintain direction across the next field to a minor road.

Turn right along the road, passing industrial buildings, to a road junction.

Turn left along the road passing an assortment of dwellings, and in 350 yards, opposite the entrance to Chivers Farm, climb a bank on the left, into a field.

Follow the left hedge to a stile and turn half-left down the next field to cross a bridge beside a pond. Branch right between farm buildings along a metalled drive to a wooden barn and turn right.

In 25 yards, with a farmhouse on the right, take the footpath which leaves the drive on the left.

Climb steeply to clear the woodland at a field corner. Turn left along the fence-line, to the midway point, then turn halfright across the field to a road.

5.Turn right down the road for nearly 200 yards and take the signed left track to a rail fence a few yards ahead.

Cross into the field and climb up the hedgeline to the top left corner and enter woodland.

Follow the main track for 400 yards through woodland and across a field to a minor road.

Cross to the opposite stile and follow the field edge for 150 yards to cross a railing stile into woodland.

Skirt around a restored wagon pond, diverting right and then left to arrive at a four-way junction we were at earlier.

Pass through the gate and turn right down fields to a metal gate, pass through and turn right.

At the far side of the field, enter a small copse leading to the roadside. Turn left along the road, back to the starting point.