GreatOutdoorsAW
What is GreatOutdoorsAW?
The beauty and benefit of the parks and seafront in Adur and Worthing are the focus of a new campaign highlighting a range of activities available for everyone.
The GreatOutdoorsAW campaign aims to remind residents of the great natural resources on our doorstep and, as we emerge from lockdown, how everyone can make use of them.
The campaign highlights bushcraft skills training, family fun days and taster activity courses, which are among a wide range of experiences that residents can look forward to this summer.
GreatOutdoorsAW offers a jam-packed calendar of activities being delivered by the Councils' Parks, Foreshores and Wellbeing teams, and partner organisations, running from the end of June to mid-September, with something for all ages to enjoy outdoors.
Evidence shows that access to green and blue space is associated with positive mental and physical health. In Adur and Worthing there are more than 100 parks, playgrounds and open spaces, and over 10 miles of coast, which have provided a vital wellbeing boost for many people during the long period of lockdown.
The GreatOutdoorsAW campaign aims to raise awareness of the many ways that residents can enjoy being outdoors in Adur and Worthing and the health benefits of doing so.
Later in the summer, the Park Rangers will be hosting drop-in 'surgeries' for residents to ask questions about and share their views on how the parks are used, which will help inform the Councils' wider plan for improving, maintaining and increasing the use of the green and blue spaces in Adur and Worthing. Other Councils staff will be out and about making connections with people who use the spaces.
Visit our green and blue spaces
In Adur and Worthing there are more than 100 parks, playgrounds and open spaces, and over 10 miles of coast. Find out more about some of them here:
You can find a full list of all of the:
Lancing Ring
Lancing Ring is a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) which sits within the South Downs National Park and is managed as a partnership between Adur District Council and the Friends of Lancing Ring.
The area, which spans almost 47 acres and can be accessed via North Lancing, features woodland, ponds and a disused chalk pit. It is home to several species of wildlife, including birds, bats and butterflies, and is popular with families and dog walkers.
The Friends of Lancing Ring organise regular task days to help maintain the area, offering a great way to exercise outdoors, meet new people and help to care for the local environment.
Find out more about:
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Buckingham Park, Shoreham-by-Sea
There's something for everyone of all ages to enjoy at Buckingham Park, from sporting activities, including bowls and tennis to a family picnic in the wide area of open space.
The park, which can be found on Upper Shoreham Road, is a popular location for local families as it has a large playground with a range of equipment for young and older children to enjoy. Outdoor gym equipment and two table tennis tables are available for visitors to the park to use for free. Refreshments are available from the dog-friendly Cup Cakes cafe.
It is famous among arborists for its chestnut trees which date back to the 1700s where they stood in a row in the grounds of the original Buckingham House. In May 2021, 18 new chestnut trees, grown from the seed of the veteran trees to help preserve the history of the existing trees, were planted by children from Buckingham Park School,
Tucked away to the east of the park is the Apron Community Garden, which is open to visitors, and green-fingered volunteers are invited to help care for the crops.
Find out more about:
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Shoreham Beach
Did you know that Shoreham Beach is classed as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR)? This is because the vegetated shingle on this beach is an internationally rare habitat which contains plants such as Yellow Horned Poppy, Sea Kale and Curled Dock. It is also home to the rare Starry Clover, which was unique in the UK to Shoreham Beach up until a couple of years ago when it was also discovered growing in Hampshire.
Shoreham Beach is managed by the Friends of Shoreham Beach, a group of volunteers who work with the Park Rangers to protect and maintain the nature reserve. The group organises wildflower walks, rock pooling events and bird watching walks to educate people about the habitat.
A board walk runs along the length of Shoreham Beach, providing an accessible route from the road to the shoreline to enable visitors to enjoy the blue space without harming the plants.
Find out more about:
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Homefield Park, Worthing
Homefield Park was Worthing's first municipal park - or 'People's Park' as it was historically known. Today, the 10 acres of open space is home to a wide range of facilities, including a children's playground, a basketball court, outdoor gym, all-weather tennis courts and a skate park, which was designed in consultation with the skaters and BMXers of Worthing.
The park, which can be found next to the hospital in east Worthing, is also home to The Haven, a community food and wildlife garden, which has resident birds, foxes and squirrels. The Haven was created and continues to be run by local people and welcomes anyone who would like to join and help maintain the garden.
Working alongside the Park Rangers to care for the park are a group of volunteers called Friends of Homefield Park. They organise a range of events including community planting days.
Find out more about:
- Homefield Park
- How to book a tennis court at Homefield Park
- The Haven in Homefield Park - on their website
- The Friends of Homefield Park, and how to join - on their website
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Brooklands Park, Worthing
Work is underway to transform Brooklands Park into a beautiful new community asset for everyone to enjoy. The centrepiece to the park - the lake - has recently been revived, which includes the installation of two windmills to improve the oxygenation of the water.
Relandscaping of the park, with adventure playgrounds, a cafe and natural glades and walkways will get underway later this year, and will provide a much-needed space for residents and visitors to enjoy.
The Park is also home to the Bees&Seas project, which is run by local community group We Are Food Pioneers and features a small orchard, a herb garden, wildlife habitats, a bug hotel and planting schemes, where local people can visit to learn about biodiversity.
Working in partnership with the Park Rangers to care for and maintain the park are the Friends of Brooklands. Volunteers help with a range of tasks, including tree planting, sowing seeds, painting and general maintenance.
Find out more about:
- Brooklands Park
- The Friends of Brooklands Park, and how to join - on their website
- The Bees&Seas Project in Brooklands Park - on their website
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Victoria Park, Worthing
Situated at the heart of Worthing, Victoria Park has something for everyone to enjoy. This includes a play area for children, outdoor gym equipment, table tennis tables and a wide open space perfect for ball games and picnics. The park is particularly popular with dog walkers who even have their own Facebook group - Victoria Park Dog Walkers & Volunteers - where information about what's on in this much-loved greenspace is shared with the local community.
Visitors to the Park will find the Fisherman's Garden - a previously disused patch of the park which was transformed by the local community into a tribute to Worthing's coastal heritage, and the fishermen who lived along Cobden Road. Features in the garden include a stunning mosaic wall and a community garden.
Find out more about:
- Victoria Park
- The Victoria Park Dog Walkers & Volunteers, and how to join - to keep up to date with what's on - on their Facebook group
Meet our Parks and Foreshore teams
Meet the Park Rangers and Coastal Wardens who manage and maintain our parks, open spaces and beaches, with the help of a team of volunteers.
Park Rangers:
Coastal Wardens:
Anthony Read, Head Ranger
What inspired you to be a Park Ranger?
The love of the outdoors and being a father of two young children I want to make sure that the parks and green spaces we have in our towns remain there for future generations.
What's your favourite part of the day in the park?
Early morning as there are usually fewer people about so the wildlife can be heard more.
What's your favourite plant/flower/feature of the park?
Any of the trees that I have planted over the years. I love the thought of people sitting in their shade in 100 years time and maybe wondering who planted it.
Tell us something surprising about the parks
The number of bird species in our parks.
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
Seeing the public out and about again in our parks after a very troublesome year and a half.
Meet another member of our teams or Back to top
Craig Ifield, Park Ranger
What inspired you to be a Park Ranger?
The rapid decline of and damage to the environment around me and realised that something needed to change. This was the only way that I could see making a positive change, and improve the landscapes I grew up in.
What's your favourite part of the day in the park?
During sunrise, hearing the morning calls of wildlife.
What's your favourite plant/flower/feature of the park?
Redwoods.
Tell us something surprising about the parks
Brooklands Park is home to a local Cold War bunker.
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
Seeing the works carried out in the winter and autumn coming into full bloom.
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Emily Ford, Park Ranger
What inspired you to be a Park Ranger?
I love working outside and in nature.
What's your favourite part of the day in the park?
When you can look back at what you've done in the day and see what's been achieved.
What's your favourite plant/flower/feature of the park?
Birds foot trefoil.
Tell us something surprising about the parks
The amount of different wildlife and plant life that can be found even in the most urban park.
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
Doing some bird watching.
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Adam Scott, Park Ranger
What's your favourite part of the day in the park?
Morning.
What's your favourite plant/flower/feature of the park?
The three different types of tree peony at Highdown Gardens.
Tell us something surprising about the parks
Kittys Field, also known as Dominion Road open space, is named after a horse!
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
Picnics in the sunshine.
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Keith Walder, Park Ranger
What inspired you to be a Park Ranger?
To spend the majority of my day working outdoors.
What's your favourite part of the day in the park?
Early morning.
What's your favourite plant/flower/feature of the park?
The Sweet Chestnut Trees at Buckingham Park, and the wildlife and wildflowers.
Tell us something surprising about the parks
Buckingham Park was an army camp during WW1.
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
Conservation grazing on the downland areas.
Meet another member of our teams or Back to top
Rob Dove, Senior Coastal Warden
What inspired you to work for the Coastal Team?
To make a difference to my local area.
Favourite part of the day on the beach?
Early morning.
Favourite plant/flower/feature of the beach
Sea Kale.
Tell us something surprising about the beach
It will only get better!
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
Raising awareness about the amount of potential our local water has!
Get active outdoors
Several outdoor activity courses are taking place across Adur and Worthing this summer.
This includes a series of 'Active Parks' classes, back by popular demand after spaces sold fast earlier this year. Choose from a range of classes, including beginners' running, walking, dance, yoga and Zumba, which are taking place at parks in Worthing, Lancing, Shoreham and Southwick.
The 8-week courses are being delivered as part of the Get Active initiative. This means that you pay a £10 fee to sign up, which is refundable if you complete at least six out of the eight classes:
Help care for our green and blue spaces
Did you know that our Park Rangers and Foreshore Team are supported by an army of volunteers who help care for our green and blue spaces? There are different ways you can join them. Here are some ideas:
Join a 'Friends of ...' group
If you enjoy spending time outdoors, meeting other people and would like to help care for the environment, why not join one of our 'Friends of ...' groups.
There are several 'Friends of ...' groups in Adur and Worthing, including Friends of Shoreham Beach, Friends of Marine Gardens and the Goring & Ilex Conservation Group:
Volunteer at a community green spaces
If you enjoy gardening but don't have a garden at home or would just like to get involved in a community project, you could join a community garden. Here are some links to Community Gardens websites in Adur and Worthing:
Page last updated: 27 September 2023