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Hastings Country Park Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve A259 to Rye 2 to Pett Level North’s Seat M A R T I N E Fairlight Church A U 9 L C A 5 ITH N L N 2 D I E 2 G A C M 2 R D O R D W D A B T R P O Fairlight Road Picnic Site IGH O R IRL O FA R P ’ E E R V O Y A G A D M IN A BBQ R TL D D M O P Visitor Centre H F TONE CL R IG A A IRS B2093 to Battle R O IL T H B R L IG 2 N L L & leading to A21 A R D O N I P C A A E F O A E R B THE RI D M G E E L T D IL E D 19 I K Disused Quarry I 2 L P M N Little L A N Warren E AD 20 O M Cottage R E T H IG U RL N I E FA Fairlight AV T H Place G Stables Cottage 26 LI M 27 IR Warren D FA Coast Guard 2 Place Farm House ORE R 23 FAIRLIGHT E Wood Cottages T U 25 N Place Farm A C Cottages Brakey Radar 11 Bank 22 D Fishponds 24 A M Farm buildings O Cottages R 15 N D A Dripping O O X R Well A 13 S D L O R A 21 H 9 Glen 5 17 2 A 18 M Wood Fishponds D Lee Ness Ledge A Shearbarn E N Farm House O Holiday A L R Y E L Park R N Long A O B Firehills Wet Shaw D N Fishponds Wood 9 O 2 16 Meadow L D L D O A 10 O R D L 14 RO Warren Glen PLEASE NOTE: Ponies roaming, please keep dogs under control. A Ecclesbourne H Reservoir P Barn Pond M 12 Black Rock 5 Covehurst Wood Key 7 G U RT T H E N R A 8 L D Y Nature Reserve boundary Parking LE P R 4 BA E N Ecclesbourne 2 A L S Meadow Footpath P Parking for disabled D M N A A L Cave H K Cave C O 6 CK R I M 3 Fairlight Glen Steps Map boards W Rocklands HASTINGS GH I M D H Holiday Park OLD TOWN A Accessible path Farm elds (no access unless O R 2 D waymarked) L All Saints O R Permissive path Church A H BBQ Seasonal barbecue facilities BBQ 2 Toilets T Picnic area 9 E 5 E 2 R T Toilets for disabled A S Y S A PLEASE NOTE: Footpath E T 2 National cycle route. Cycling N W N I E A L closed due to Landslide. R S K Ecclesbourne Glen 27 Directional bollards C Beacon on designated route only L A U L T Please use alternative route. O A M B 1 E Viewpoints Access point H T East Hill Lift East Hill Ancient Monument Site ROCK-A-NORE ROAD Main access point PLEASE It may be necessary to close footpaths The Stade P NOTE: A259 to Bexhill at short notice for public safety. Please 0 Scale 500m 1km follow diversions. Café Harbour 0 1/2 mile Ponies and cattle roaming, please keep dogs under control. Pub make your visit more enjoyable. make visitmore your to whocanhelpwith information volunteers dedicated meetourfriendly to and centre thevisitor into Call centre visitor onallevents. information pagefor Facebook orvisitthecouncils contact [email protected] information more atthereserve. For organised A series ofconservation andtasksare events volunteers plants andanimals. insouth-east richrocks infossilised Englandwhichare someoftheoldest cliffsections reveal magnificent The geology from their web site or on the councils Facebook page. oronthecouncilsFacebook site theirweb from available Details are theyear. series throughout ofevents runa Friends The Centre. Visitor atthe a membershipform canpickup oryou canbedownloaded membership form www.friendsofhastingscountrypark.org on canbefound Information abouttheFriends looking helpcontribute to to after thesite. the Friends thenpleasejoin reserve, itslandscapeand wildlife thisbeautifulnature by beeninspired If have you reserve nature Hastings country park of the Friends an allupandcomingevents. information pageand twitter for ourFacebook upto Sign find us contraband goodsaway. spirit whowould the ‘tubmen’ arms ofthewaiting the andinto their contrabandupthefaceofcliffs theSmugglersoften winched ‘Derricks’, pulleys known as and early 19thcentury Usingmakeshift smugglingtrade. park the18th The wasessentialto overlooked Hastings. Monument hillfort becauseoftheIron Age thatonce EastHill ScheduledThe Ancient isadesignated history viatheEastHill foot (seemap). Rye, orby Hastingsor busfrom by Road, carviaFairlight either by park theEastofHastingsandcanbereached The liesto access diversions signs from Rocklands signsfrom Lane. diversions the pleasefollow reserve ofthenature rest theGlen andthe access To unsafe. this area make to Landslips continue theEastHill. from Glen Ecclesbourne to isnolongeraccess There WARNING to naturalerosion. unstabledue are cliffs The andclothing. suitablefootwear please wear very are allweathers, Some areas hillyandexposedto safety your for Borough Council Borough Find Hastings Follow Follow @hastingsbc where a where Peregrine The site is most well Exmoor ponies and Belted Galloway cattle can be found Warren Glen wildlife known for the spring and roaming within a wide area of the Country Park. They are Historically important site, farmed by Stone Age Much of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve is of autumn migration that can the most effective and sustainable way to manage large inhabitants and used as a free rabbit warren in 1254 national and European importance for its special wildlife be witnessed here. Most areas of the Nature Reserve. These animals are intelligent and 1317 (hence the name). Impressive show of and habitats, which is why it has been designated a Site conspicuous is the inshore and resourceful, will graze the grass and regrowth from spring flowers. of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of migration of brent geese tree stumps, young gorse and other scrub. Conservation (SAC). The diverse cliff vegetation, which and common scoter in You may well come across a pony or Beltie on your walk. includes specialist cliff plants such as thrift and hoary spring and the spectacular Please be aware that these animals are wild and although stock, acid grassland, heathland, freshwater marsh and swallow, house martin and they will welcome you on your walk, we respectfully ask you ancient gill woodlands are all found along this unique woodpigeon migration in not to feed them and to keep your dog/s under control. area of maritime cliff. autumn. Many continental birds and insects use the site on migration and rarer migrants such as wryneck, red-rumped swallow, pallas’s warbler, and yellow-browed warbler have been seen in Fairlight Glen recent years. Romantic haven Lovers Seat was once located near here but has now been lost due to erosion leaving only a Long-horned bee stone in its place. Many interesting plants and animals together with popular Victorian attraction The Dripping Well. (John Logie Baird is said to have drawn inspiration for the idea of television whilst on a long walk over Fairlight Glen). Heather The gill woodlands, Warren Wood, Fairlight Glen and Belted Galloway cattle Ecclesbourne Glen Ecclesbourne Glen, are of national importance for the Heavily wooded with many ferns and mosses, this was rare and very sensitive mosses and liverworts which the landing place and entrance to the Iron Age hill fort. thrive here. These glens are also outstanding in spring places of interest A Coastguard watchtower was built here in 1819. for the stunning display of bluebells, wood anemones and yellow archangel that carpet the woodland floor. East Hill These woodlands also support an important population The visitor centre Important historical and archaeological site with fine of dormice. Fascinating history, geology and wildlife displays. views of Hastings Old Town. Barbecue facilities provided. The heathland, cliffs, cliff top grassland and woodland Open Friday to Sunday only. are home to many rare and unusual insects, some of Fairlight Road picnic site Hastings Country Park Nature Wheatear which are found in very few other places in the country. Quiet area, ideal for picnics. Barbecue facilities provided. Reserve is an outstanding site The Firehills The sandy heathland and acid grassland is home to for bird watching. Noteable many different ground nesting bees, wasps and beetles, Main car park and visitor centre. Excellent views North’s Seat species include peregrine falcon, including the bee-wolf wasp and green tiger beetle. to France and Dover across panorama of colourful Highest point in Hastings. Fine views of Wealden Sussex. yellowhammer, raven, buzzard, The sandy cliffs are home to a large population of grey Heathland. Two ‘Access for All’ trails are present, which Named after Frederick North, formerly Hastings Mayor, linnet, dartford warbler and bush-crickets, long-horned bees and six-belted are suitable for wheelchairs, leading to picnic tables and local MP and father of biologist and botanical artist wheatear. clear-wing moths. stunning viewpoints. Marianne North. contacts 01424 451066 ask for ‘Parks’ welcome... or email [email protected] A picturesque nature reserve of national importance with stunning coastal views sited within For more information the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. hastings.gov.uk/countryside_nature The nature reserve has 345 hectares (853 acres) of ancient gill woodland, heathland, grassland In an emergency, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard or one and farmland together with 5 kilometres of dramatic sandstone cliffs and coastline. Much of the other Emergency Services. of the area has been designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special You report it, we’ll sort it! Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the unique wildlife & fossil rich soft rock cliff and slope.
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