Places to Visit - find

Peacehaven Sky High, Peacehaven BN10 8JQ, wall to wall interconnected trampolines, toddler bounce, open sessions 5yrs+.

Railway Land Nature Reserve

Lewes BN7 2FG, meadowland & woodland reclaimed from the old rail yards, wheelchair accessible.

Raystede Centre for Animal

Welfare nr Ringmer BN8 5AJ, charity giving animals a better life through rehoming, rehabilitation & sanctuary, café, shop & activities, free

Seaford Head Local

Nature Reserve BN25 4JQ, Downland, cliffs, grassland & shingle beach, views of the Seven Sisters & Cuckmere Valley.

Sheffield Park & Garden NT TN22 3QX, informal landscape garden family activities & woodland play trail

Standen Standen House & Garden NT, East Grinstead, RH19 4NE, Arts & Crafts family home with Morris & Co. interiors, great views, woodland walks & play area, seasonal family events (see advert p.5)

Bluebell Woodland Walks

mid-April to mid-May

Did you know that...

> Almost half the world's bluebells are found in the UK, they’re relatively rare elsewhere.

> It is against the law to intentionally pick, uproot or destroy bluebells.

Tilgate Park & Tilgate Nature Centre, Crawley RH10 5PQ. Outdoor play area, hedge maze, cafe, woodland & lakeside walks, BIAZA-accredited zoo.

Wakehurst Gardens & Millennium Seed Bank, Ardingly, ‘Kew in the Country’, botanical gardens, walks, adventurous trails, natural play spaces, Millennium Seed Bank, café & gift shop, seasonal family events.

Washbrooks Family Farm, BN6 9EF, animals, tractor rides, in/ outdoor play areas, tea rooms.

Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, Chichester PO18 0EU, historic buildings dismantled from their original location & reassembled.

Woods Mill Nature Reserve Henfield BN5 9SD. Sussex Wildlife Trust HQ, nature reserve, woodland, meadows & reed-fringed lake, free.

WWT Arundel Wetland Centre BN18 9PB, nature reserve, boat safari, adventure playground, & café, weekend & holiday activities, seasonal events (see advert)

> Bluebells are an indicator of ancient woodlands and take a long time to establish, around 5-7 years from seed to flower.

> Bluebells can take years to recover after footfall damage.

> If you plant bluebells in your garden, make sure you're planting the English bluebell not the Spanish version, as they will compete with the native species.

Here are a few places in Sussex where you can find Bluebells...

To the east & north east:

Stanmer Park, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RE - beautiful woodland walks and extensive open lands. Accessible by bus/train/car [parking fee apply].

Ditchling Common, Ditchling BN6 8SG, woodland, grassland [free parking].

Wakehurst Botanical Gardens NT, Ardingly RH17 6TN [parking fee apply].

Sheffield Park Garden NT, nr Uckfield TN22 3QX. Standen House & Garden NT, nr East Grinstead RH19 4NE (see advert p.5) Heaven Farm, nr

Uckfield TN22 3RG, ancient bluebell woodland nature trail, feed the carp and treat yourself to a Latchetts’ ice cream! [entry fee]. Wilderness Wood Main Road, Hadlow Down, TN22 4HJ (n/r Uckfield). Selwyns Wood nr Heathfield TN21 0QN. Flatropers Wood nr Peasmarsh TN31 6TH. The Arlington Bluebell Walk & Farm Trail, Arlington BN26 6SH [entry fee]. Brede High Woods, north of Hastings, High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty [free car park]. Marline Valley nr Hastings TN38 9NY.

To the west, north & north west:

Butchers Wood BN6 9PH, ancient oak woodland, start from the Hassocks train station, path off Keymer Rd (SE of the railway line). Nymans NT, Handcross RH17 6EB (see advert p.5) Woods Mill Nature Reserve nr Henfield BN5 9SD [no dog allowed]. The Mens nr Billingshurst RH14 0HR

Ebernoe Common nr Petworth GU28 9LD. Slindon Estate NT Arundel BN18 0RG. Butler’s Copse, between Angmering & Arundel BN18 9PX, free parking at the end of Dover Lane.

Source: Woodland Trust, National Trust, Sussex Wildlife Trust

Note: National Trust (NT) woodlands are free for NT members, entry fee apply.

SOFT PLAY & ROLE PLAY CENTRES

Hope Hive, 51 St Dunstans Road, Worthing BN13 1AA. Role play centre offering fun and stimulating role play for young children to grow their imagination and creativity, Mon–Sat, 07861 338324

JumpIn Inflatable Fun, Burgess Hill RH15 9TL, soft play & parties.

KiddiCity Role Play Centre Langney Shopping Centre, Eastbourne BN23 7RT. Play sessions with 11 play zones to explore such a ‘real life’ city street, rideons with mini drive-thru activities, 0-8 yrs.

Baby Glow Play Centre Hastings

TN34 1JN. A fully immersive sensory experience specifically for the early years (0-5yrs), open Mon-Sat (check website), 01424 612 948

Barney’s Play Uckfield TN22 1QL. For 0-12 yrs, height restriction 142 cm (4ft 8ins), 9.30am-5pm weekdays, 10am-6pm weekends, reduced rate toddler mornings Mon & Thu until 1pm term-time, 01825 764575

Fun Abounds Bell Lane, Uckfield TN22 1QL. Trampoline centre with café, 01825 768479

Funplex, Bevendean BN2 4JE, indoor soft play adventure centre & laser tag parties, seasonal & holiday activities.

Froggies Indoor Soft Play at Knockhatch, all ages with U3yrs toddler area.

High Places, The Triangle, Burgess Hill RH15 8WA, 16 fun themed climbing experiences.

Lewes Leisure Centre Lewes BN7 2XG. Ocean Adventure soft play over 3 levels for U8s, dedicated baby/toddler area. Open daily 9am6pm, 01273 486000

Magic Castle Soft Play, Peacehaven Leisure Centre, MonFri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm, U10s.

Monkey Bizness Cliffe Industrial Estate, Lewes BN8 6JL. Maze of play frames, toddler area for 2-5yrs, main frame suitable for 5-12yrs, open Mon - Fri 9am - 6pm, Sat & Sun 10am - 5pm, 01273 311566

Mouse Trap, Downs Leisure Centre Seaford BN25 4QW, inflatable course (2-11yrs), Fri 4pm to Mon 2pm.

Tiny Tim’s, Hangleton Comunity. Centre, Hove BN3 8BW, soft play on 3 levels U9s.

WRAP Playcentre Central Brighton BN1 3XE, café & multi-level soft play, Mon-Fri am/pm, Sat-Sun am.