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Hastings Borough Council has one Visitor Centre, which is part of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve. The Visitor Centre is located at the eastern end of the Country Park, close to the Firehills and Fairlight village.
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The Centre contains information about the wildlife and geology of the Country Park. There is a touch table where visitors can pick up and feel objects from the natural environment and there is a range of displays that give more information about what makes Hastings Country Park such a special place. We have a small number of publications for sale as well as a small selection of souvenirs. You can also pick up our free events leaflet and site guide here.
For those that have an interest in wildlife, we keep up-to-date information on recent wildlife sightings at the Visitors Centre and what is going on at the site. You can also report your own wildlife observations at the Centre. The Centre is also somewhere you can report your own wildlife observations. We send all our biological records to the Sussex Biodiversity Records Centre and recent sightings are put on the Wild Hastings web site.
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We cater for school groups, but please contact us before you come so that we can help you make the most of your visit. We can open the Visitor Centre by arrangement outside its normal opening times and get the Rangers to organise some activities and guided walks for you. We are in the process of developing some education packs for the country Park and would welcome any comments on the sort of topics you would like to see covered. For more information regarding school visits please contact us.
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As part of the Hastings Country Park Development Project we would like to develop a new, first class Centre to meet the needs of our various visitors in the future. Ideally we would like to build a new centre somewhere close to the existing one, with additional space for an indoor classroom, interactive displays and a range of other visitor facilities.
If you have any views on what you would like to see in our new Centre please contact us.
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The Visitor Centre is open most weekends between 10.00am and 4.00pm in the winter and between 10.00am and 5.00pm in summer. The Centre is also open most weekdays except Thursdays throughout the year and is staffed by Volunteer Rangers. The Centre is not normally open when there is very severe bad weather and on some public holidays.
You can check if the Centre will be open by contacting the Rangers.
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The Visitors Centre can be reached by car via the entrance off Fairlight Road just before Fairlight Church on Battery Hill.
It can also be reached by public transport by taking the 344 bus service between Hastings (Breeds Place) and Pett and getting off at Fairlight Church. To reach the Country Park and the Visitors Centre from the bus stop, cross the road and walk down Coastguard Lane. Please note that this is an hourly service running from Hastings at 22 minutes past the hour and there are no services on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
Alternatively, improve your health and take in the views by walking.
Follow the signs for the Firehills on the way, then the marked bollards once in the Country Park. If you do walk, please remember to wear appropriate footwear such as walking boots and outdoor clothing suitable for the weather conditions.
A map of the Hastings area showing major roads to the Country Park can be viewed here.
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Please contact Nature Conservation or the Ranger Service for further advice or information on any matter relating to the Visitor Centre.
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This page last updated: 01/07/2008