Parks and gardens in Lewes

For Eastbourne go to our parks and gardens in Eastbourne and select the park you would like to learn more about.

Malling recreation ground, Lewes

Malling recreation ground is in central Lewes, off Spences Lane.

It is home to the Waterloo Bonfire Society, site of one of the many bonfire societies in Lewes. Free car is parking available adjacent to the children's play area.

Facilities include:

• Children's play area
• Scenic views of the river
• 4 football pitches
• Skate park

Malling recreation ground, Spences Lane, Lewes, BN7 2NW

Bell Lane recreation ground, Lewes

On Bell Lane, Lewes there is an area of open space.

Facilities include:

• Children's play area
• Lawn area

Bell Lane recreation ground, Bell Lane, Lewes, BN7 1JU

Landport recreation ground, Lewes

Landport recreation ground is an area of open grass land with a secluded pond at one end, located on the Landport estate in Lewes.

Facilities include:

• Children's play area
• Cycle agility course
• Ball games wall

Southover Grange gardens, Lewes

The gardens date from the 16th century and are managed by us for the public to enjoy. They are open from 8.30am until dusk or 9pm (whichever is the earlier) all year round except Christmas Day.

The gardens

The beautiful gardens are divided into two almost equal parts by the Winterbourne stream and are remarkable for some magnificent trees.

Outside the Ainsworth Room on the charming stone-flagged terrace is sculpture by John Skelton and nearby is a fine Magnolia Grandiflora and an equally fine Mulberry tree. 

Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) planted additional trees when she visited Lewes on 18 May 1951.  Her visit to the Grange gardens is commemorated by an inscribed stone at the base of the Tulip Tree on the cross path at the end of the main lawn.

On the south border of the lawn is a wall running west to east and then in a southerly direction terminating at the Winterbourne stream.  This wall was probably erected by William Newton.

Above the archway in the side of the wall facing west is a carved stone boss, originally obtained from the ruins of the Priory.  Similar bosses or corbels are to be found at Michelham Priory near Dicker and Arlington (South of Michelham) the latter having a small church dedicated to Saint Pancras the patron saint of Lewes Priory.

Each season the formal bedding displays are planted to produce a mass of colour, with the half-hardy bed and dahlia bed adding to the mixture of traditional and modern design.

A new addition to the gardens is the creation of a wildflower area with the planting of Primroses, Cowslips and Wild Strawberries among many other species.

On the 19th June 2004, a new Knot Garden was opened by Lady Baker on the site of the old council plant nurseries within the Grange Gardens.

Southover Grange Gardens, Southover Road, Lewes, BN7 1TP

Stanley Turner ground, Lewes

The Stanley Turner Ground is located on the Kingston Road just outside Lewes.

Facilities include:

• Free on-site parking
• Small children's play area
• 3 rugby pitches
• 2 senior football pitches
• Cricket table
• Changing facilities with showers

Stanley Turner ground, Kingston Road, Lewes, BN7 3NB

Telscombe playing fields, Telscombe

Telscombe Playing Fields are located at the northern end of Telscombe Cliffs Way.

Facilities include:

• 3 senior football pitches
• 2 mini football pitches
• Changing facilities with showers

Telscombe playing fields, Telscombe Cliffs Way, Telscombe Cliffs, BN10 7DT 

Eastside recreation ground, Newhaven

This public open space is the smaller of the two in Newhaven and is located at Norton Road.

Facilities include:

• Senior football pitch
• Public conveniences
• Changing facilities
• Children's play area

Eastside recreation ground, Norton Road, Newhaven, BN9 0BP

Walmer Road recreation ground, Seaford

This recreation ground is on an area of open land in Walmer Road, Seaford.

Facilities include:

• 2 senior football pitches
• Sports changing rooms
• Children's play area
• On road parking

Walmer Road recreation ground, Walmer Road, Seaford, BN25 3TN

Fort Road recreation ground, Newhaven

Fort Road Recreation Ground is the larger of two recreation grounds in Newhaven. It is located at the southern end of Fort Road at the foot of Castle Hill Nature Reserve.

Formal bedding displays give a brilliance of colour to the north entrance while the southern end boasts a spectacular view of the Seven Sisters cliff formation.

Facilities include:

• Bowling green
• Cricket square
• Two tennis courts
• Senior football pitch
• Formal bedding displays
• Children's play area
• Public conveniences
• Sports changing facilities
• Free on-street parking

Fort Road recreation ground, Fort Road, Newhaven, BN9 9DA

Lake Park, Peacehaven

Lake Park, Peacehaven is located at the centre of a housing estate. It's a good educational resource to the local community and schools.

We encourage annual conservation days as well as primary school science lessons to be conducted here.

The rare and legally protected Great Crested Newt use the pond as a breeding site.

These creatures have experienced widespread decline over recent years because there habitat has been lost to building developments. We aim to manage the site to maximise the conditions for Great Crested Newts.

We intend to prevent the pond from becoming too overgrown and remove invasive species of plant and animal such as Parrots Feather, Terrapins and Gold fish.

Lake Park, Lake Drive, Peacehaven. BN10 7QD

Playground and playing fields at Downs Leisure Centre, Seaford

The Downs Leisure Centre is operated by Wave Leisure. Alongside the leisure centre facilities and sport pitches operated by Wave Leisure there is also 

• a green
• children's playground
• a boule (petanque) pitch, and 
• a walled garden adjacent to the 60+ club.
• There are a number of car parking areas on the site as well as picnic tables, a cafe and customer toilets.

 For more information about the services operated by Wave Leisure see: Downs Leisure Centre - Seaford

Downs Leisure Centre, Sutton Rd, Seaford, BN25 4QW