A new immersive trail has been launched which will teach walkers about the sights, sounds and seasonal changes while out hiking.

Created by the South Downs National Park Authority, the Cuckmere accessible audio trail will educate walkers about the route which is home to dozens of species, such as chiffchaffs, kingfishers, adonis blue butterflies, and yellow horned poppies.

The trail is perfect for people of all fitness and mobility levels, following the Cuckmere “miles without stiles” route which begins at Exceat, near Seaford, along flat concrete, gravel and grass paths.

Walkers simply need to scan a QR code, which are located on benches along the route, to tune in to an immersive audio that delves into the wonderful wildlife at the country park.

Dawn Nelson, place and interpretation officer for the national park, helped to develop the trail.

The Argus: Dawn Nelson on the trailDawn Nelson on the trail (Image: SDNPA)

Dawn said: “It’s a really wonderful walk with some beautiful scenery and this audio trail adds an extra dimension that helps you immerse yourself in the landscape even more.

“As you travel along the trail you can listen to five unique audios with commentary and soundscapes. Egrets fishing in the salt marsh, crickets stridulating under the dark night skies and skylarks trilling – these are all the stars of this show.

“If you’re down at Seven Sisters this summer, do give it a go.”

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The country park now has a fully-refurbished visitor centre crammed with displays and activities, as well as fully accessible toilets, water stations, new recycling facilities and dog poo bins.

Further refurbishments to buildings on the 280-hectare site will be completed later this year.

Since taking over the country park in 2021, the national park has been working to improve the habitat to help wildlife thrive, including the introduction of Sussex cattle breed to help manage the delicate chalk grassland.

As the chalk grassland has become richer and more wildflowers have sprung up, rangers have noticed greater numbers of birds, including large flocks of dunlin and roosting oystercatchers.

They have also spotted curlew sandpipers, little stint, black-tailed godwit, redshank, ringed plover and whimbrel. A rare invertebrate, the sea aster mining bee, has also been spotted.