Hastings Country Park

Hastings Country Park
Shown within East Sussex
Type	Woodland
Location	Hastings, East Sussex, England
OS grid	TQ 848 117
Coordinates	50°52′19″N 0°38′20″E / 50.87194°N 0.63889°E / 50.87194; 0.63889Coordinates: 50°52′19″N 0°38′20″E / 50.87194°N 0.63889°E / 50.87194; 0.63889
Area	660 acres (2.7 km2)
Created	1974 or earlier
Operated by	Friends of Hastings Country Park
Open	7 days a week, dawn until dusk
Status	Open all year

Hastings Country Park was formed in 1974 and covers 660 acres (2.7 km²) east of Hastings in England. Sandstone cliffs, glens covered with gorse and trees, footpaths, nature trails, picnic areas and ample car parking are some of the features at the country park. Set in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, most of the park has been designated a Special Area of Conservation. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest called Hastings Cliffs to Pett Beach and a Local Nature Reserve as Hastings Country Park & Fairlight Place Farm.

The park supported considerable human activity in prehistoric times. Archaeological finds and landmarks date from Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Romano-British, Saxon, Medieval, post-Medieval, Victorian to World War II periods.

A large majority of the park has been identified as an Area of Archaeological Interest, within which, a large area of the East Hill is a designated Ancient Monument.

Many rare and scarce liverworts, mosses and lichens occur within the ghylls or ravines. Peregrines, black redstarts and fulmars breed on the cliffs. Dartford warblers, stonechats and yellowhammers breed on the gorse-covered hillsides. Many migrants pass through the site in spring and autumn and usually includes a few rarities such as Sardinian warbler, red-rumped swallow, and Pallas's leaf warbler, which have all occurred in recent years.