Highdown Gardens — Attraction in Worthing

We went to Highdown Gardens after hearing some good things. Being that Highdown Gardens is right on our doorstep we should check it out.

Highdown Gardens sits on 8.5 acres and created out of an old chalk pit. The chalk garden was an achievement of Sir Frederick and Lady Stern. Who worked for 50 years to prove that plants would grow on chalk. In the process creating some stunning gardens.

When you enter the gardens there is a little information section. Here you can find general information about the gardens. There is also a map for the kids to find specific species of plant. This is great for helping to keep them interested.

Everywhere you look there is something interesting to see, smell and enjoy. Each section has its own set of planes that are grown in that area it seems. Trying to take it all in is difficult as there is so much there. We not only saw flowers and trees but Dragonfly's, Butterfly, Birds and Bee's. Which is great to see I wish I had brought a small lunch with us so we can sit and enjoy the gardens more.

Should you suffer from mobility issues there is a route that takes you round the gardens. This is chip bark in places and if you have a wheel chair with small wheels you may struggle a little. Also the path is relatively even but it is a garden and people who are unsteady on there feet need to pay attention.

All in all Highdown Gardens is a beautiful site and one I will be visiting many more times with my...

Beautiful gardens. Free parking (must be under 2.1m as there's a barrier. We went on a busy bank holiday and whilst we had to park in the overflow car park there was plenty of room still. Lovely walk around the gardens, took us around 1-2 hours with adult children including stopping for a short sit down. There's a pond there, quite shallow but watch young children. It has an enormous fish in it which even my adult kids loved spotting and in May loads of tadpoles which younger kids would enjoy spotting. There are plenty of shaded as well as open spots to walk around and what seems to be a small visitor centre at the start (it wasn't open when we went so can't comment on it). Not somewhere to spend the day but certainly somewhere to stop for a short walk if you have time. The toilets are not pleasant and it could have done with a map of the place at the start so you didn't miss any of it and I understand why they don't want dogs but it's also frustrating when there is a wide open hill next door to walk your dog but you can't then take them into the gardens. All in all however definitely worth stopping off. There's also no right turn into there so you have to do to the roundabout and back to turn into it if heading from...

Beautiful place to spend a couple of hours and it has free admission. It contains rare plants and trees from around the world. There is a lot of history to discover too, via information boards in Visitor Centre. Gardens have been rejuvenated, with better access for wheelchairs and buggies in some areas. The waterfall has also been restored with a solar powered pump to ensure minimal environmental impact. Guided tours are also available last Thursday in month from 2 to 3 (March to September). Book online or turn up 10 minutes before. Cost £5. Also events such as snowdrop and peony days. These are seasonal. Buy the plants you see in the garden at the pop up shop on most Thursdays and Fridays from 12.30-3.30. Discover days for children on some Wednesdays during school holidays. Minimal cost for some activities but most are free. Large free car park which also serves...