Places to Visit

Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve Over 850 acres of ancient woodland, meadow and cliff top grassland, plus 3 miles of dramatic cliffs and coastline between Hastings and Fairlight.

Hempstead Meadow OpenSpaces Uckfield, nature reserve along the River Uck floodplain, important wetland habitat.

BLUEBELL WOODLAND WALKS mid-April to mid-May

Did you know that...

1066 Country Walk follow in the footsteps of William the Conqueror from Pevensey to Rye via Herstmonceux and Battle.

Abbots Wood Arlington, Polegate BN26 6SL. Ancient woodland with walks, medieval lake, BBQ hire, picnic tables and play area. Arlington Reservoir, Polegate BN26 6UX. Covering some 245 acres, the reservoir is a nature reserve, Open 9am until dusk.

Ashdown Forest Centre Wych Cross, RH18 5JP Metrobus 270. Once a Norman deer hunting forest, now the largest free public access space in the southeast, great walks and the ‘home’ of Winnie the Pooh, Pooh Sticks Bridge and Pooh Corner Shop (TN7 4AE in Ashdown Forest.

Bedgebury Pinetum Goudhurst TN17 2SJ, 2,000-acre forest for numerous walks, family cycling trails, mountain bike, dirt jump area, cycle hire, horse riding for TROT members, adventure play trail, cafe and Go Ape.

Boothland Wood ancient woodland south of Uckfield for walks and cycling.

Chailey Common BN8 4DH, walks, horse riding and cycling on paths only, 01444 831098

Crowborough Country Park Tollwood Road TN6 2NH. Beautiful 16-acre nature reserve, tracks, ponds, picnic areas.

Cuckmere Valley BN26 5TT, National Trust land, open dawn until dusk, a haven for wildlife and great for kite flying, High and Over hill, chalk horse and stunning views of the Seven Sisters and Cuckmere Valley.

Devil’s Dyke Devil’s Dyke Road, Poynings, near Brighton. Longest, deepest and widest ‘dry valley’ in the UK.

Friston Forest Exceat, west of Eastbourne off the A259, walks, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding with TROT permit, picnic tables, BBQs, children’s play area.

Gildredge Park and Manor Gardens Vicarage Road, Eastbourne BN21 1HA. Family park, playground, tennis courts, lawns, picnic tables and café.

Hampden Park Eastbourne BN22 9QN. Sports and recreation facilities including those for football, rugby, cricket, tennis, children’s playground and BMX skate facility, café, 10-minute walk from Hampden Park railway station. Free admission & parking.

Lake Wood Uckfield TN22 2DE. Once part of the Rocks Estate, the mix of natural and man-made features create dramatic and beautiful views. Rocky sandstone outcrops with high cliffs that overhang the picturesque 3-acre lake and the cave-like boathouse carved out of rock, wildlife.

Motcombe Gardens, Eastbourne Old Town BN21 1PU. Originally forming part of a farmyard, the 9th Duke of Devonshire gave the garden to the town of Eastbourne in 1909. The duck pond is the source of the Bourne stream from which ‘East Bourne’ got its name. There is an historic round, flint-built dovecote with a conical tiled roof standing on an upper level. Main paths suitable for wheelchair access. Free entry.

Newhaven Skatepark & Pumptrack, located off Fort Road, BN9 9DL, in the south of the town, near Newhaven Fort.

Park Wood Hellingly. Seminatural woodland with walking trails and 400m surfaced trail.

Peacehaven Big Park skate park, playgrounds, natural play spaces, climbing wall, seating, grassed pitch, café, footpaths and links to the South Downs.

Princes Park Eastbourne BN22 7AE. Playgrounds, summer splash pad, boating lake and café. Open all year, free entry.

Railway Land Nature Reserve Lewes BN7 2FG. Over 20 acres of meadowland and woodland reclaimed from the old rail yards, incl. the award-winning Linklater Pavilion. The nature reserve is open to the public 24 hours a day all year round and is accessible by wheelchair.

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve TN31 7TX. Explore the saltmarsh on a guided walk, discover the local wildlife & history, Discovery Centre.

Seaford Head Local Nature Reserve BN25 4JQ. Cliffs, downland, grassland and a shingle beach are home to many nationally rare and significant species of plant, bird and insect. Enjoy peaceful walks and stunning views of the Seven Sisters & Cuckmere Valley.

Seven Sisters Country Park, Exceat, 280 hectares of chalk cliffs, meandering river valley, open chalk grassland for walks, bird watching, rock pooling, cycling to the beach and canoeing on the meanders.

Shinewater Park Eastbourne BN23 8AT. Includes footpaths and cycle paths, playground, lakes, all-weather sports court, BMX and skate area, fishing with a permit. Open all year, free entry

> 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.

> 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. 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. 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.

South Downs National Park & South Downs Way, incl. Ditchling Beacon, which is the 2nd highest point in the South Downs National Park with spectacular views across the Weald. Ditchling Beacon was one of a chain of fires lit to warn of impending invasions. Once an Iron Age hill-fort, with its steep northern slope used as a natural defence.

Stanmer Park Falmer, off the A270 Lewes Road, Brighton. Landscaped park with lots of walks and two football pitches.

Stanmer House, Church, Stanmer Organics, Earthship Brighton. One Garden Stanmer Park’s walled garden transformed & open to the public, plant nurseries, café, market, workshop & events.

St Helens Park Local Nature Reserve Langham Road, Hastings. Nature reserve, ancient woodland and lots of footpaths.

The Helen Garden Dukes Drive, Eastbourne BN20 7XH. Playground, putting, bowls & petanque.

Uckfield Millennium Green access via New Rd, Ridgewood or park at Ridgewood Village Hall. Hard surfaced path, dog free picnic area and lots of wildlife.

Undercliff Walk 5km+ from Brighton Marina to Saltdean, used by both cyclists and pedestrians. Occasionally very wet when the waves come over the seawall!

West Park Local Nature Reserve Uckfield. Relatively small reserve covering just over 8.5 acres of woodland, grassland, marshy areas and sandstone outcrops. Boardwalks provide easy access around the site.

Wilderness Wood Hadlow Down, near Uckfield TN22 4HJ. 62 acres of woodland, nature trails, lots of children’s activities, café & shop. Usually open Wed– Sun term time & daily during school holidays, full details on their website.