Natural Discovery Hailsham

Additional information

The building

The self-catering premises have been built especially as ‘low-impact’ high-quality accommodation. They are situated in the gardens of a former farmhouse overlooking the Pevensey Levels.

Environmental principles underpinned the concept from the start, so that the design is one 'typical' of environmental architecture; it is constructed of wood sourced from sustainable forests within the UK, it is south facing to capture morning light and the expansive double glazing captures 'passive solar heating'.

Natural ventilation is provided by wide opening doors and windows, and the insulation is made of recycled telephone directories and newspapers. The design means that minimal energy is required to heat the building, although central heating is included in the price of rental.

The colour 'theme' of the building is natural pine, white walls and blue accessories which include bedding, towels, crockery and cutlery. The objective is to achieve a peaceful and uncluttered ambience.

The garden

The building of the premises has led to the 'recovery' of a waste area of the garden. The gardens are planted with native plants, and are designed to attract a range of birds and wild mammals. Organic principles underpin the gardening methods used by the owners, Pat and Kathryn.

Wherever possible they tend the garden using a minimum of sprays and other chemicals. In line with organic practices, they cater for wildlife by leaving vegetables to flower rather than uprooting them and leaving the ground bare, or by planting a ‘catch crop’.

Ground cover is left at the edges of the garden and in the wildlife area to the side of the building. The lawn is not mown so that it looks like a bowling green (other than the area set aside for croquet).

The Pevensey Levels

The Pevensey Levels are 3500 hectares in size, and although some of the land is given over to sheep and cattle farming, they are a designated SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and part of the Levels is a designated a Nature Reserve. The picture opposite is the view from the garden.

In keeping with the conservation approach, landowners on the Pevensey Levels are paid by English Nature to build gates, sluices, scrapes and fencing to protect wildlife; they are also paid not to use fertilisers and chemicals.

This careful management results in the Levels being home to 21 out of the UK’s 28 species of dragonfly, and home to various rare beetles and molluscs. They are one of only two sites in Britain where the Fen Raft Spider can be found, and they support more than 70% of all the indigenous species of flowering water plants.

The Levels offer tremendous opportunities for walkers and bird watchers. In addition there are a number of lanes and tracks that cross the Levels which offer safe and quiet cycling.

The area

The accommodation is situated one mile from the centre of the market town of Hailsham, which has a full range of shops including the supermarket Waitrose. There is also a modern leisure centre offering a full range of facilities including a fitness centre, and a swimming pool complete with flume.

Hailsham also boasts its own restored Art Deco cinema that screens all the latest films.

The village of Pevensey with its Norman castle and church is just five miles distant, and Herstmonceux village and castle are four miles.

The South Downs Way starts at Eastbourne, and there are also amazing views along the coast, inland and across the Channel from walks along the Seven Sisters (see picture opposite).

Other attractions within easy reach include the towns of Eastbourne (9 miles), Brighton (20 miles), Hastings (15 miles), Battle (7 miles), Lewes (16 miles), and Tunbridge Wells (20 miles).

For cyclists the villages and lanes of East Sussex offer tremendous opportunities for rides of any distance and level of difficulty. There are numerous tearooms and pubs which offer excellent fare.