Ditchling Common

Overview

East Sussex County Council’s Rights of Way & Countryside Team is responsible for the management of Ditchling Common Country Park (DCCP).

DCCP is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).  This status is because of the important and rare acid grassland on the site.  As landowner, it is the County Council’s duty to maintain and protect this habitat.  

DCCP is also home to many important insect, reptile, bird, and mammal species, including hairstreak butterflies, dormice, and bats.

The Park is a popular destination for walking, dog walking, horse riding, fishing, and nature lovers.  The needs of these users must be balanced with the management of the SSSI habitats at DCCP.

Much of our work is focussed on managing this grassland habitat through mowing and grazing regimes, and through halting the natural succession of grassland to woodland, whilst also maintaining access and facilities for Park visitors.

Why your views matter

Funding has been made available from a nearby housing development in Burgess Hill.  These funds are for the management, maintenance and improvement of Ditchling Common County Park – both in terms of public access and the site’s ecology.

The County Council is already committed to spending some of this funding to meet our SSSI management obligations.  While our funding might not allow us to do everything we’d like, we’d really appreciate hearing your thoughts so we can make the best use of the resources we have, to make sure that Ditchling Common Country Park meets the needs of visitors while protecting and improving this valuable habitat into the future.

If you are a regular visitor, we’d like to know about your experience and any changes that you would like to see.

If you don’t visit Ditchling Common Country Park, we’d like to know what prevents you and what, if anything, we can do to support you in visiting.

Your feedback will help to shape the future management of the Park.

Please complete our survey by the 4th July 2025.