Category Archives: Natural History

August, East Sussex, Natural History, Reels and Shorts, South East, Summer, Videography, Woodland & Parks

St Leonards Gardens – Regency Vision and Alan Turing’s Childhood

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Introduction

St Leonards Gardens is one of the most historic green spaces in Hastings. I first came across it after visiting the James Burton memorial, and soon realised the gardens tell their own remarkable story — from the town’s Regency beginnings to Alan Turing’s childhood.

Here’s a short video walk through the gardens:

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History

The gardens were originally laid out in the 1830s by James Burton, the great Regency builder who founded St Leonards-on-Sea. Designed as private pleasure grounds for the residents of Burton’s new seaside resort, they featured sweeping lawns, ornamental planting, and a serpentine lake at the centre.

The lodges at the edges of the park became homes in their own right. At North Lodge, Henry Rider once lived — father of novelist H. Rider Haggard, author of King Solomon’s Mines. Later, the area became associated with another extraordinary figure: Alan Turing, pioneer of modern computing, who spent part of his childhood in a house overlooking the gardens during the 1920s.

By the later 19th century the private grounds had fallen into decline, but they were eventually restored and opened to the public. Today the park still follows Burton’s original layout, with its winding paths, ornamental lake, and a duck pond full of lilies and life.

St Leonard gardens hastings
A calm peaceful morning walk through St Leonards Gardens

Walking from South Lodge through to North Lodge, you can still sense the Regency ambition that shaped this corner of Hastings, alongside the stories of the remarkable people who lived here.

Practical Info

  • Location: St Leonards Gardens, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex
  • Access: Free public access via South Lodge (by the seafront) or North Lodge (upper end).
  • Best Time to Visit: Spring and summer when the gardens are full of colour, or autumn for reflections on the lake.
  • Nearby:
    • James Burton Memorial, St Leonards – Monument to the town’s founder.
    • Warrior Square Gardens – Another Victorian garden space in St Leonards.
    • Hastings Pier – Seafront landmark with changing exhibitions and views.
August, East Sussex, England, Hastings, High Weald, Natural History, South East, Summer, UK, Woodland & Parks

Old Roar Ghyll – The Forgotten Wilderness of Alexandra Park

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Introduction

At the northern end of Hastings’ Alexandra Park lies a hidden valley once celebrated as a jewel of Victorian landscape design: Old Roar Ghyll. In the 1860s, when Robert Marnock laid out the park, the ghyll was meant to be its dramatic finale – a roaring sandstone waterfall, shaded woodland paths, rustic bridges and wild scenery just a short walk from town.

Today, the scene is very different.

Here’s a look at what I found on my recent visit:

Even now, you can trace the old walk through Little Roar Ghyll upstream to where the waterfall once roared. And yet, what was once a highlight of Hastings is now blocked by landslides, dried by drought, and hemmed in by housing estates.

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The Walk

I started at the upper entrance, only to be stopped straight away by barriers and a sign – another path closed due to landslip.

old roar gyhll path closed hastings
old roar gyhll path closed hastings

So I dropped into Little Roar Ghyll instead, which still runs through the shaded woodland. It’s probably looked after more by locals than the council.

Little Roar Gyhll Alexandra park Hastings
Little Roar Gyhll Alexandra park Hastings

With the stream almost dry, I followed the bed upstream, pushing through nettles and scrambling over fallen logs. Eventually I reached Old Roar Ghyll itself – the great sandstone cliff that once carried a waterfall so loud it gave the place its name. This time it was silent, the stream cut off or dried to nothing, the rocks scarred by fresh collapses.

Just beyond, a smaller, unnamed waterfall spills prettily down the valley side – perhaps the loveliest sight of the day. But even here, blockages of timber and more closed paths show how little maintenance is done.

Decline and Red Tape

Alexandra Park below is still neat, polished, and well-funded, but the wild ghylls at the top are being left to rot. Some argue this is nature reclaiming itself – and there’s truth in that – but from walking it, it feels more like abandonment.

Local people know why: these valleys sit within protected SSSI land, meaning any work involves endless surveys, health and safety paperwork, and permissions. Residents who’d happily clear paths and keep the place open run into 50-page forms and bureaucracy. Meanwhile, houses stand right on the unstable edges, blighted by landslips, their values falling.

We’re told there’s no money, no will, and no plan – yet billions are found for other projects elsewhere.

There used to be a streamside path leading up to Roar Gyhll with it being the prize spectacle. During the 70s due to development right up to the valley edge it began to subside and gradually got closed off now completely inaccessible. This is what happens when short sighted housing is prioritised over rare natural environments like this.

Why It Matters

Places like Old Roar Ghyll are more than neglected corners of a park. They’re part of our heritage and our wellbeing. Every child should have somewhere wild to roam close to home. Adults need green space for mental health, especially in towns. And in Hastings, these sandstone ghylls are rare landscapes found nowhere else in Sussex.

To let them collapse through short-sightedness and red tape is to lose a treasure forever.

Practical Info

  • Location: Northern end of Alexandra Park, Hastings, East Sussex.
  • Access: Little Roar Ghyll is still open, but Old Roar Ghyll itself is blocked by landslides and officially inaccessible.
  • Best Time to Visit: After rain, when the streams and falls are flowing – though check path closures before you go.
  • Nearby:

August, East Sussex, England, High Weald, Natural History, South East, Summer, UK, Woodland & Parks

Lake Wood Uckfield – Sandstone Caves and Woodland Lake

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Introduction

Lake Wood, on the western edge of Uckfield, is a hidden corner of the High Weald. It offers a peaceful woodland walk, dramatic sandstone outcrops, and a spring-fed lake with a history that blends natural geology with human design.

Here’s a short reel from my visit:

A reminder of how geology, landscape, and community care combine to create something special.

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Natural History

Lake Wood sits within the High Weald, one of the most geologically distinctive landscapes in southern England. Around 140 million years ago, during the Cretaceous, sands and clays were laid down in a shallow sea. Over time, erosion stripped away the softer clays and left behind the harder sandstone ridges.

The outcrops here belong to the Ardingly Sandstone — the same formation that gives rise to Eridge Rocks and other striking cliff faces across the Weald. These rocky ledges, caves, and gullies create a unique microclimate where mosses, lichens, and ferns thrive.

The lake itself is spring-fed and seepage-fed through surrounding rocks and peat, forming a balanced ecosystem for aquatic life and woodland species.

Human Influence

In the early 19th century, the estate owner landscaped Lake Wood in the romantic picturesque style. Tunnels, steps, and even a boathouse were carved directly into the sandstone, blending natural features with human design.

What feels ancient and untouched is partly a crafted vision, shaped to enhance its beauty and mystery. Today, the Woodland Trust manages the site, preserving both its ecological value and historic character.

Conservation

Lake Wood is no ordinary woodland — it has survived repeated threats of development thanks to decades of effort from the local community. Volunteers work tirelessly to keep the paths open, clear litter, and protect wildlife.

Erosion from footfall can expose tree roots and wear away the sandstone ledges, so staying to the marked paths is important. Signs also ask visitors not to swim or fish, as the delicate pH of the lake must be preserved.

The latest challenge came as recently as 2024, when a large housing appeal was dismissed after strong local opposition. Lake Wood stands today because people continue to care about it.

Practical Info

  • Location: Lake Wood, west of Uckfield, East Sussex
  • Access: Free access via Rocks Park Road (limited parking nearby). Managed by the Woodland Trust.
  • Best Time to Visit: Year-round — spring brings fresh woodland growth, autumn brings colour, and low sun highlights the sandstone cliffs.
  • Nearby:
    • Eridge Rocks – dramatic sandstone outcrops and nature reserve.
    • Ashdown Forest – open heathland, famous as the home of Winnie-the-Pooh.
    • Sheffield Park Garden – landscaped 18th-century garden with lakes and woodland walks.

August, East Sussex, England, Hastings, Natural History, Reels and Shorts, South East, Summer, UK, Videography

Covehurst Bay – Sussex’s Wildest Hidden Beach

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Introduction

Tucked away beneath the towering cliffs of Hastings Country Park, Covehurst Bay is one of the most remote and dramatic beaches in East Sussex. With no facilities, no phone signal, and only steep footpaths for access, it feels like a world apart. At low tide, the sea pulls back to reveal wide stretches of sand and rock, creating a raw coastal landscape that’s unlike anywhere else along the Sussex coast.

Here’s a short reel to give you a glimpse of the bay:

For location details, check it out here on Google Maps, or see it in my collection of All Map Locations.

Wild and Untouched

Covehurst Bay is part of Wild Hastings — a rugged coastline where nature is left largely to itself. At low tide the golden sands stretch between slippery rocks and jagged ledges, with the red sandstone cliffs rising steeply behind. The place feels almost Martian in parts, with giant boulders scattered across the beach and no signs of human development in sight.

Fossils and Geology

The cliffs here are millions of years old, formed from sandstone and shale layers that have yielded fossil plants and even dinosaur footprints. But finding them without precise knowledge is like searching for a needle in a haystack. For most visitors, it’s the sheer drama of the cliffs and the shapes in the rocks that leave the strongest impression.

Wildlife and Seals

This secluded bay has become a quiet haven for wildlife. Grey seals are sometimes spotted hauling out on the sands at low tide, basking just offshore, or bobbing curiously in the waves.

The remoteness of the location makes it one of the few places along the Sussex coast where seals can rest undisturbed.

An Unofficial Nudist Beach

Since the 1970s, Covehurst Bay has also been known as an unofficial naturist beach. Its isolation and steep paths keep visitor numbers low, and those who do make the trek often value the sense of freedom and privacy the bay provides.

Practical Info

  • Location: Covehurst Bay, beneath Hastings Country Park, East Sussex
  • Access: Steep woodland footpaths from Fairlight Road; best visited at low tide for sand access
  • Best Time to Visit: Summer months during calm conditions and low tide; sunsets on clear days are spectacular
  • Nearby: Hastings Country Park, Fairlight Glen, Ecclesbourne Glen, Rock-a-Nore in Hastings Old Town, Hastings Pier Beach, Cliff End Pett Level.

Ancient Trees, August, East Sussex, England, High Weald, Natural History, Reels and Shorts, South East, Summer, UK, Videography

The Ancient Yew of Rotherfield – St Denys Church and 1,500 Years of History

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Branching Out: From Photography to Storytelling

For a long time Sussex Photography has been about capturing the landscape in the right light — waiting for the perfect sunrise, or finding a composition that does justice to the Downs, the Weald, or the coast. But I’ve realised there’s another layer to the places I visit. Beyond the natural beauty there are stories: human history, folklore, and heritage that make these places what they are.

So this marks the start of something new. Alongside photography and videography, I’ll be exploring the stories behind the landscape — not just the natural history of ancient trees and valleys, but also the human history of churches, castles, follies, and forgotten corners of Sussex. Videography allows me to weave these elements together: a reel can capture both the visual and the story.

And there’s no better place to begin than with one of the oldest living things in Sussex — the ancient yew tree at Rotherfield.

The Living Witness of Rotherfield

In the churchyard of St Denys at Rotherfield stands a yew tree believed to be at least 1,500 years old. Already ancient when the first wooden church was raised here in AD 792, the yew has lived through Saxon stonework around 1060 and Norman additions after 1066.

Hollow but Alive

The tree today is a striking sight — its heart long gone, leaving only a hollow shell. Yet the bark still lives, sending up branches skyward. Supported by props and chains, it remains a miracle of survival.

Sacred Roots

Like many churchyard yews, this one may have marked a pagan gathering site, later absorbed into Christian tradition. Yews became symbols of eternity, death, and rebirth — evergreen trees that could outlast dynasties, empires, and whole ways of life.

Why This Matters

The Rotherfield yew is more than a tree. It is a living archive of Sussex history — connecting natural history and human history, faith and folklore, past and present.

Watch the Story

You can also watch my short film about the Rotherfield yew here:

Plan Your Visit

You can find St Denys Church and its ancient yew tree on Google Maps. I’ve also added it to my Sussex Photo map of ancient trees here.

Closing Reflection

This is the first in a new series where I’ll be exploring not only the landscapes of Sussex, but also the stories that lie behind them. Ancient trees, forgotten churches, hidden follies — all the things that shape our connection to this place.