Sussex

Estate walk at Sheffield Park

Complement a visit to the stunning landscape gardens with an exploration of the historic parkland at Sheffield Park, East Sussex. Gentle slopes across grazed fields lead you by copses and down to the riverside flood meadow.

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Total steps: 10

Start point

Sheffield Park car park, TN22 3QX

Step 1

Starting facing away from the visitor reception, cross the car park and enter the parkland through the kissing gate. Bear slightly left across the parkland following the grass permissive path, following signs to Ringwood Toll. Head through the two kissing gates and to the left of the stag-headed oak. After the gate, follow the path to the pedestrian gate in the middle of the forested area ahead and enter Ringwood Toll. ‘Dogs are welcome but please do keep them on a lead due to livestock grazing, apart from in East Park.

Restored grassland

This area was arable land farmed to grow cereal crops until 2006 when the National Trust embarked on an arable reversion project to restore the area to grassland of high wildlife value. The land is grazed to help improve the nutrient balance of the soil to encourage wildflowers and associated insects. The parkland now has a rich fauna, including abundant green woodpeckers, at least eight species of bat and several scarce dragonflies. On clear days you can see Fletching church to the south west and the Ashdown Forest to the west.

The stag-headed oak on the parkland at Sheffield Park, Sussex — The stag-headed oak on the parkland at Sheffield Park | © National Trust Images/John Miller

Step 2

Passing the carving of the Green Man, turn left and follow the main path through the play trail. Follow the main trail around in a semi-circle, past the stock gate on the left. Exit onto the parkland through the next pedestrian gate on the left.

Step 3

Join the permissive path going right, go through the pedestrian gate. Head slightly left past two benches.

Bluebell Railway

If you are lucky you will hear the steam trains approaching on the Bluebell Railway, and spot the tell-tale sign of clouds of steam through the trees. At such moments, it is easy to imagine that this landscape has remained largely unchanged for the last 100 years. The 3rd Earl of Sheffield championed the growth of the railway and the station at Sheffield Park was built in 1882 to serve the house and garden.

Step 4

Turn left downhill towards the gates and bridge – pass over the Hammerdick stream. Bear left and follow alongside the stream, past the hollow oak, two wooden bridges and the restored lock.

Oxbow and the River Ouse Restoration project

The oxbow features are a result of straightening and deepening of the Ouse in the 1700s, meaning what used to be meanders of the river are now oxbow features. Since receiving Heritage Lottery Funding, we’ve undertaken a restoration project for the River Ouse at Sheffield Park. The project has been working to improve the channel shape and connection to the floodplain, reducing flooding downstream and benefiting the wildlife habitats in the area. As part of the project, we have built two wooden bridges to improve access and carried out works to conserve the 18th-century Iron Gates Lock.

Step 5

Head across Irongates Mead with the wooden bridges at your back to cross the Hammerdick Stream. Please note that this is a diversion from the usual estate walk - during the wet winter weather the bridge over the Hammerdick was irreparably damaged and has been removed. Follow the tree line around to the right and then head uphill slightly out of the trees and head right along the permissive path, keeping the trees on your left-hand side, towards a flat bridge ahead.

Step 6

Continue along the permissive route, along the level ground, towards the Pillbox and pond.

Pillbox

The pillbox is the main surviving structure from the Canadian Army camp stationed here in the Second World War. The inside is well preserved, with five large weapon shelves and faint grafitti marks remaining from its time in use. The Pillbox pond has recently been improved to attract more wildlife. By reducing the over-shading of the pond, it is now a more suitable habitat for aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. This should bring in populations of frogs, toads and newts which use the pond for breeding and feed on the invertebrates.

Step 7

Continue straight ahead through the pedestrian gate, follow ahead and enter Skyglade through a gate on the left. Skyglade is a place for pausing and taking in views of the big open sky. It’s built from eight 12ft panels of Sussex oak, placed at compass points, which create a viewing circle for stargazing evenings and cloud spotting. Exit via the same gate, turn left and follow the permissive path along the outside fence-line of Skyglade. At the end of Skyglade, continue straight ahead to the double metal gates out of the parkland.

The wooden skyglade sculpture set in the parkland of Sheffield Park and Garden. — Skyglade on the parkland at Sheffield Park and Garden | © National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

Step 8

Turn right and follow the track. Cross the weir into East Park. This is the place where you can let your dog have a run around off the lead.

Step 9

After the bench, bear to the right into the wooded area.

Army camp remains

During the Second World War, Sheffield Park was an extensive camp for several Canadian regiments. The Nissen huts that housed the soldiers covered a wide area stretching from the main road almost to Fletching village. Remains of these buildings can still be seen around Sheffield Park, including in East Park. Various pots, crockery and equipment from that time are often found in the grounds.

Step 10

At the first fork in the path within the woodland, turn right. Follow round to re-join two main tracks - turn left down the farther track on the other side of a fenced grassland area. Keep following the track around as it curves to the left, with the cricket pitch to your right and head back to the bottom of the lake. Follow the track back up to the car park from which you can head to the garden, café’ or shop.

Cricket pitches

Cricket has been played at Sheffield Park since 1845. The 3rd Earl had a passion for cricket and hosted all types of matches, from junior village standard to internationals. The Australians were frequent visitors and would open their tour with a game at the ground against Lord Sheffield’s XI. A particularly notable fixture against Australia in May 1896 was attended by 25,000 people, including HRH Prince of Wales (later Edward VII). Banners lined the route up from the railway to the garden and no expense was spared.

End point

Sheffield Park car park, TN22 3QX

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Sheffield Park, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 3QX

01825790231

sheffieldpark@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Total steps: 10

Total steps: 10

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