Northwood at Slindon Estate

In October 2013, 75 hectares (just over 90 full sized football pitches) of arable farmland came back in to National Trust ownership from an agricultural tenancy. This land was once part of the large Northwood, which was clear felled and then ploughed up for food production during the two World Wars. We want to return this land back to a wooded landscape connecting up the woods that were cut off from each other almost 100 years ago. Find out how this exciting project will develop over the coming years.

A family helps to plant a tree in an open field, lit from behind by bright autumn sunlight.
Slindon Estate   West Sussex

The Rise of Northwood

Here at Slindon we've begun the National Trust's biggest ever woodland restoration project, returning 75 hectares to its pre-wartime wooded landscape.

Find out more about the changes taking place

Enjoying Northwood

A harvest mouse nest

Grow a woodland and the wildlife will come 

Find out how the wildlife has already started to thrive at the newly planted Northwood project in the heart of the Slindon Estate.

Walkers enjoy the wide open views along the track to Little Wood

The Rise of Northwood ramble, Slindon 

Take a walk to see the fields under the plough since the First World War, soon to be restored to woodland as part of our project 'The Rise of Northwood'.

Cutting the ribbon at the opening of Littlewood lookout, Slindon Estate
Slindon Estate   West Sussex

Littlewood lookout

Littlewood lookout is open! Visitors to the area can come and admire this beautiful timber framed building built thanks to the hard work and dedication of the staff and volunteers.

Discover Littlewood lookout

Northwood - past and present

Canadian Forestry Corp at Northwood lumber camp in First World War

Northwood's history 

Northwood is bursting with history, with much being identified through archaeological evidence, maps, books and more recently, photos. Find out more about what has made this such a place of interest across the centuries.

Family picking out trees for planting

Wild about The Rise of Northwood 

The restoration of Northwood will not happen overnight - it will take several years for the new saplings to emerge through the grass, the planted trees to grow tall and strong, and the woodland wildlife to return.