Eastbourne Summer Meeting starts on Thursday! This is the fourth and final blog in a short series from local town resident, Ros Wolfarth, to remind you of the what's, how's, and where's you need to know about during your stay in Eastbourne.
Today's Blog No 4. looks at History and Wildlife:
HISTORY
Sussex is not the most populous county, but we have a huge wealth of interesting places to visit. From pre-historic circles on the tops of some of the Downs to a Roman Fort - one is just to the East of Eastbourne at Pevensey-this one encircles a Norman Castle.
There are also Roman remains in other parts of Sussex, particularly around Chichester, the county town of West Sussex- no surprise with the suffix of chester! Lewes, the equivalent county town in East Sussex is a beautiful mediaeval town, about a 25 minute train ride from Eastbourne. It boasts the second oldest Norman Castle in the land. Visiting Lewes is like being in a time warp. Highly recommended for a worthwhile day out but, from experience last year, check out opening times if you want to visit Anne of Cleves House! One of the 2 spouses who survived Henry VIII, Anne chose Lewes to live out her life in peace. An excellent choice. Rye is another gem.
Hastings Old Town is also worth the trip across. Northiam, Battle, Michelham Priory, Hurstmonceux, all good for days out, these to name but a few close by.
Or just spend a quiet hour slap bang in the middle of Eastbourne in Motcombe Gardens, Old Town, followed by a pie and pint at the Lamb Inn (AD 1180).
Sussex has a wealth of picture postcard villages, some of them in spectacular countryside. Far too many to mention...you should invest in a Guidebook!
WILDLIFE
A recently screened series on lifeboat rescues featured Eastbourne Seafront, straight opposite the Winter Gardens, when a deer was found running along the beach!
An escapee from the Downs which go all the way down to the sea at their eastern end at Beachy Head. This is not an everyday occurrence, but we have deer on the Downs, and they are prolific on the High Weald and in Ashdown Forest. Lots of badgers and foxes, both urban and country ones, hedgehogs, bats. In the air we see sparrow hawks & buzzards, as well as a huge variety of other birdlife.
The Cuckmere, a short drive away, has a colony of swans.
Seals visit Sovereign Harbour, and Dolphins play in our seas. There are plenty of fishing boats active at night and a fresh fish shop very close to the new Bridge Club, sells their landed catch from there. Sorry, I realise this section is about LIFE! Eastbourne maybe a town, but surrounded by countryside and sea, so nature is never far away.
The Council has done its bit by rewilding some areas - but in a controlled fashion and have planted plots of meadow flowers right in the middle of the town. They have one in the square between the Winter Garden and the Sea. Just found a photo of it on my phone from last year's flowers. Eye-catchingly pretty.