Florence Park

Just outside Chichester, Florence Park is a proper little nature reserve that rewards a quiet morning walk far more than it promises on first glance. You're looking at woodland and grassland habitat - the sort of place where you actually notice things if you're paying attention. Birders will have a field day here, especially in spring and autumn when migrants come through. The paths are straightforward, nothing technical, and a loop takes about an hour depending on how much you dawdle.

It's best visited early, before the place gets warm and everything retreats into the undergrowth. Bring binoculars if you've got them. Leave the toddlers at base camp - there's not enough open space to let them burn energy, and the appeal is genuinely quite subtle.

Free to access, no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which is either refreshing or disappointing depending on your outlook. It's the sort of reserve that feels like a proper local secret rather than a destination in itself. That said, if you're staying at one of the holiday parks nearby - Chichester Lakeside is barely a mile away, and Butlins Bognor Regis sits five miles south - it's worth an hour of your time as a contrast to whatever the holiday park offers. Combines well with a walk around Chichester itself, which is close enough for a morning trip. Don't expect drama. Expect birds, some nice light filtering through the trees, and the genuine article.