Hastings Country Park

History

The park had a lot of human activity in prehistoric times. Archaeological finds and landmarks date from Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Romano-British, Saxon, Medieval, post-Medieval, Victorian to World War II periods.

The majority of the park is an Area of Archaeological Interest, within which, a large area of the East Hill is a designated Ancient Monument.

About

Hastings Country Park is a scenic nature reserve with stunning coastal views found within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Beauty. The nature reserve has 342 hectares of ancient gill woodland, heathland, grassland and farmland together with five kilometres of dramatic sandstone cliffs and coastline. Much of the area is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the unique wildlife and fossil rich soft rock cliff.

Hastings Country Park received its first Green Flag Award in 2006 and continues to hold this status.

To find out more, download the Hastings Country Park Leaflet.

Facilities and Features

The facilities at Hastings Country Park include:

• Picnic areas
• Seats
• Toilets
• Parking
• View Points
• Farm Fields

There are also a number of great features to visit and explore, such as:

• Costal Walks
• National Cycle Route
• Accessible Paths
• Visitor Centre
• Ancient Monument Site
• Notice Boards
• Belted Galloway Castle
• Exmoor Ponies

Visitor Centre

Work is underway to build a new Visitor Centre for Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve. The centre is being built in a sustainable way using straw bales. It will be home to information about the park, its geology, habitats, species and heritage together with a café for refreshments and new toilet facilities.

Once the new centre opens it will provide an exciting facility for visitors to the park to find out about this special landscape, for schools visits, activities and family events.

The new centre will be located on Lower Coastguard Lane opposite the main carpark for the Firehills area of the park, making the most of the park's stunning views over the English Channel.

Construction started in May and throughout the summer there will be opportunities to watch exciting stages in the build such as the straw bale walls being constructed and the lime render being applied.

The construction team is headed by SIA Design and Build, working with three specialist straw bale companies.
We are working with the build team to ensure that any potential disruption to users of the park and local residents is kept to a minimum.

The project is funded by Hastings Borough Council together with an award of £475,000 from Interreg North West Europe. The Interreg award is part of the innovative project called 'Up Straw' which is increasing awareness of public building with straw across North West Europe.

Once the new centre opens it will provide an exciting facility for visitors to the park to find out about this special landscape, for schools visits, activities and family events.