BIRDWATCHERS Roland and Margaret Hall always dreamed of getting closer to nature.

And now the couple can indulge in their hobby to their hearts' content after buying their own private wood.

Roland and Margaret, of Grand Avenue, Withdean, Brighton, have spent £18,000 on the ten-acre wood in Clayton, near Hassocks.

They have built a bird hide 20ft up in the trees to get a better view of their feathered friends.

The timber house is suspended between three massive oak trees and has a viewing window on each side.

Margaret, 57, said: "We bought the wood solely for conservation. There is a pond and lots of birds."

Retired builder Roland, 61, said: "I made the hide myself from scraps left over from jobs.

"It took a couple of months to make at weekends and looks down on the pond in the centre of the wood.

"We love going up there at weekends together. I've been interested in nature since I was a boy and my wife was born in the country, so she's not much of a town person."

The pair have filled their wood with about 50 nest boxes and feeders full of nuts. Roland said: "There is a nest in almost every one, and the ones that don't have birds in have dormice.

"We have nuthatches, blue tits, great tits, woodcocks, owls, pheasants, lots of different types of birds. They're fascinating to watch.

"A stream runs through the wood and in the spring there is every flower you can imagine - orchids, bluebells, primroses."

The wood is also a haven for deer, badgers, foxes, squirrels, rabbits and hares.

Roland added: "The wood is also very interesting because during the Second World War, just before D-Day, the Canadians were camped in there.

"They were expecting an invasion and you can still see some of the holes they dug. I've also found rifle bullets and an army water bottle."

But while it might all sound just too idyllic, the couple have their hands full looking after the wood, which contains trees including oak, ash, sweet chestnut, birch and hazel.

Roland said: "I have not even scratched the surface yet, but now I'm retired I can spend a lot more time looking after it."

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