Hastings Country Park

Hastings Country Park was formed in 1974 and covers 345 hectares (850 acres) east of Hastings in England. Sandstone cliffs, glens covered with gorse and trees, footpaths, nature trails, picnic areas and ample car parking are some of the features at the country park. Set in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,[2] it is also a Local Nature Reserve as Hastings Country Park & Fairlight Place Farm.[3][4] An area of 184.5 hectares (456 acres) has been designated Hastings Cliffs Special Area of Conservation.[5] Most of the park is in Hastings Cliffs to Pett Beach Site of Special Scientific Interest[6][7] and it is also part of Hastings Cliffs Special Area of Conservation[8] and Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay Special Protection Area.[9] Two areas in the park are Geological Conservation Review sites.[10][11]

Hastings Country Park
Shown within East Sussex
TypeWoodland
LocationHastings, East Sussex, England
OS gridTQ 848 117
Coordinates50°52′19″N 0°38′20″E
Area660 acres (2.7 km2)
Created1974 or earlier
Operated byHastings Borough Council[1]]
Open7 days a week, dawn until dusk
StatusOpen all year

History

The park supported considerable 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.

A large majority of the park has been identified as an Area of Archaeological Interest, within which, a large area of the East Hill is a designated Ancient Monument.

Wildlife

Many rare and scarce liverworts, mosses and lichens occur within the ghylls or ravines. Peregrines, black redstarts and fulmars breed on the cliffs. Dartford warblers, stonechats and yellowhammers breed on the gorse-covered hillsides. Many migrants pass through the site in spring and autumn and usually include a few rarities such as Sardinian warbler, red-rumped swallow, and Pallas's leaf warbler, which have all occurred in recent years.

See also

References
  1. https://www.hastings.gov.uk/countryside_nature/naturereserves/naturereserves_hastings/hcp/
  2. "Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve". Friends of Hastings Country Park.
  3. "Hastings Country Park & Fairlight Place Farm". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England.
  4. "Map of Hastings Country Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England.
  5. "Designated Sites View: Hastings Cliffs". Special Areas of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  6. "Hastings Cliffs To Pett Beach citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England.
  7. "Map of Hastings Cliffs To Pett Beach". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England.
  8. "Designated Sites View: Hastings Cliffs". Special Areas of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  9. "Designated Sites View: Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay". Special Protection Area. Natural England. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  10. "Fairlight (Wealden)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  11. "Covehurst (Mesozoic Palaeobotany)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
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