Between Seaford and Eastbourne-there is 800 hectares of tranquillity nestled in a multitude of flora and fauna.

Friston Forest.

According to Forestry England, it is “The largest area of recently established forest in South East England”

Due to its size, it can be shared by all the local community - keeping it’s peaceful atmosphere no matter what.

Whether you’re looking for an adventure in sightseeing the chalky cliffs of the Downs, or having a pleasant stroll in the peaceful woods: From peaceful walking trails to thrilling mountain bike paths, Friston Forrest has it all.

From summers in the shade of the sky-high trees-to winters with orange ombré leaves crunching under your feet in a state of‘forever autumn’, no season is a bad season to visit.

A relatively young forest started in the early 20^th century, developing into around 70% beech woodland, which, according to the Woodland Trust, is a species known as the “Queen of British Trees”, growing to more than 40 metres and identified by their “reddish brown, torpedo-shaped leaf buds” with “a distinctive criss-cross pattern.”

While Friston Forest is not the most biodiverse of habitats, it is certainly one to appreciate Mother Nature in-Having various reptiles, amphibians, bats, birds, and butterflies.

While they used to be easily spotted in a leisurely walk , according to the ‘Friston Forest Plan 2024 to 2034’ done by Forestry England- almost 50 of these species are now considered a ‘priority species’, with some of them not having been spotted since 2011.

For the better or worse, we know why there has been a decline in both animals and plants.

An article published from Renaturing Seaford, focusing on the Chalk Hill Blue butterflies native to Friston says, “One of the main problems is that 2024 has been a terrible year for many species.”

The article continues to say, “The wet weather throughout the Spring and Summer has caused problems but overall, our butterflies are struggling to adapt to the milder, wetter winters we are now experiencing every year.”

And these ‘milder, wetter winters’, while having many contributors, is mainly due to Climate Change.

Briefly, due to human activity like burning fossil fuels, greenhouse gas levels are heightened, thus raising the global average temperatures and shifting weather conditions.

2024 was “a terrible year for species”, as well being reported as “the first year above 1.5 Celsius” as well as, “Carbon dioxide levels” being “higher than any time in the last 800,000 years”, both according to the BBC.

Due to this, the deterioration in wildlife like Friston Forest will continue if we cannot slow it Climate Change.

However, there are many global, as well as local initiatives to fight against this.

Global organisations tackling Climate Change include WWF, the Climate Group, and more.

Local Sussex organisations like Seaford Action for Nature hold ‘The Gallops Butterfly Project’.

Places like Friston are precious sites of wildlife-It is our responsibility as a community to make sure they keep thriving.