Binsted & Tortington
See bluebells, bee flies and bird’s-nest orchids
The famous English poet Laurie Lee wrote about his wartime memories of Binsted in his diary and it’s easy to see why this charming, unspoiled village is a source of inspiration.
Surrounded by beautiful woodland and wildflower meadows you can stroll through, Binsted also has a small but exquisite Norman Church, which sits on top of an iron age earth work with an old weather cock surveying the Sussex countryside from the top of the tower.
If you want a drink or a meal, the village pub, The Black Horse is a great place to stop. How will Binsted inspire you? You can discover more about Binsted here.
Have you ever seen a Bird’s-nest orchid? As you might imagine, it looks like a bird has made a nest, with tangled roots that attach to woodland trees. This is not a tropically bright orchid – it has no green leaves and is pale brown. You have to look hard to spot them in the dappled woodland light. Bird’s-nest orchids are just one of the rare species you can spot around the village of Tortington between Arundel and Ford.
The small village is ringed by open farmland, water meadows, riverbanks and ponds, which are home to dormice, nightingales, bee flies, and purple emperor butterflies.
In Tortington village, you can visit the 12th century church of St Mary Magdalene. Keep a look out for the ‘beakheads’ – boggle-eyed monsters, designed to amuse (or possibly terrify!) parishioners. If you visit Tortington in spring, you can enjoy stunning bluebell displays in the surrounding ancient woodland.
Written by Barb Hogan, Visit Arundel
