Nostalgic memories of a popular park will be celebrated at a special exhibition.

From mass rallies to military postings, The Level has held a special place in hearts of tens of thousands of Brighton’s residents.

As part of the £2.2 million to redevelopment the park in Ditchling Road, dozens of locals have been asked to provide their memories of the much-loved open space.

With the help of photographs from The Argus, the people’s project covering the parks recent history will go on display from today.

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Councillor Pete West, chairman of Brighton and Hove City Council's environment committee, said: “The exhibition is the result of two years' work with local residents and it is a fascinating insight into the part the park has played in so many people's lives in so many different ways.

“It really celebrates the life of The Level and shows how important it is, the park is like a back garden for many people in the city who don't have an outside space of their own, and following the restoration of the park is a very fitting way to mark the start of the next chapter of The Level's history.”

More than 50 people took part in the oral history project organised by the council's parks team with local historian Dr Sam Carroll.

They recounted their memories and family stories about the park to a team of volunteers, digging out photographs, posters and other memorabilia to record the park's history.

Among the most notorious include the Royal Engineers taking over the land in World War Two and the Great Storm of 1987, which saw the park’s trees left strewn across the pathways.

Other memories include the game of bat and trap traditionally played at The Level on Good Fridays; music festivals and skateboarding in the 1990s; and the setting up of a women’s peace camp in the 1980s.

The exhibition will be on show in the newly restored Bertie MacLaren Pavilion, which is named after the former superintendent of parks in Brighton who oversaw the development of The Level in the 1920s.

The exhibition will open today (SAT) from 3pm to 5pm; tomorrow 2pm to 4pm; Wednesday 2pm to 4pm; Friday from 10am to 12pm; November 18 from 2pm to 4pm; November 23 from 2pm to 4pm and November 26 from 2pm to 3.30pm.

For more details visit brighton-hove.gov.uk/thelevelhistory.