Hampden Park Dr, Eastbourne, BN22 9QR, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Hampden Park Arboretum and History Garden
Garden
Place photograph
3.9
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
Check
Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
3.9A small garden turns plant collecting into a walk through history: its trees are arranged to represent species native to or introduced to Britain since the last Ice Age, while the adjoining border traces plants introduced from the period before Roman occupation onwards.
This is a compact, story-led garden rather than a wild landscape. Its distinctive appeal is the way a simple circuit links trees and border planting to the long history of plants in Britain, with a guide that helps visitors make sense of what they see.
Peaceful
Find your way
Open mapHampden Park Dr, Eastbourne, BN22 9QR, East Sussex, United Kingdom
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The experience
A short, self-guided garden visit focused on identifying trees and exploring the herbaceous border. The supplied guide recommends two complete clockwise circuits, one for each planting layer.
Things to do
Follow the tree circuit
Use the guide’s tree plan to locate specimens representing trees native to or introduced to Britain since the last Ice Age.
Read the planting border as a timeline
Look for box hedging dividing the border into historical periods, then use the guide to explore the plants associated with those periods.
Look for the historic daffodil varieties
The guide identifies historic daffodil varieties around the garden perimeter; their current seasonal condition is not confirmed.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Short visit
Two circuits, two ways to read the garden
- 01
Start at the entrance nearest the road, as described in the guide.
- 02
Walk a complete clockwise circuit looking at the trees and their origins.
- 03
Walk a second clockwise circuit to explore the underplanting and border.
Verified history
The Friends of The Hampden Park proposed the garden feature to Eastbourne Borough Council in early 2006. After grant funding, the arboretum was designed for a vacant plot beside the café; trees were planted in November 2006 and the first phase of underplanting followed in 2007, with further planting added later. Its design uses trees and border plants to explore the origins and uses of plants in Britain and their arrival through natural colonisation, migration and trade. The guide notes that box hedging divides the border into historical periods.
Hidden details
Box hedging as a timeline marker — The guide explains that box has been used to divide the border into historical periods, linking a familiar garden plant with the history of planting in Britain.
A planting plan for the perimeter daffodils — The guide includes a plan showing the distribution of historic daffodil varieties around the garden perimeter.
When to go
· Not specified in the supplied evidence.
The guide mentions daffodils and a herbaceous border but does not provide flowering dates or seasonal recommendations.
No weather or ground-condition information is available in the supplied evidence.
What to look for
Use the garden guide and planting plans to find trees associated with different periods of introduction, including the Judas tree, tulip tree and sweet chestnut. Look for box hedging dividing the border into historical periods and historic daffodil varieties around the perimeter.
The story
Archaeology
Best time to go
The supplied evidence does not identify a best season. The guide includes daffodils, historic daffodil varieties and a herbaceous border; check locally for current seasonal interest.
No best time is specified in the supplied guide. Check for current planting interest before travelling.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
Families · Walkers · History lovers
Before you go
Address
Listed hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
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Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
The supplied guide identifies an entrance nearest the road and describes a path through the garden. Public access details are not confirmed in the supplied evidence; check before visiting. Access arrangements are unconfirmed. Check before visiting; do not enter private land or restricted structures.
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Parking
Parking availability is not confirmed; check before visiting.
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Toilets
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Food & drink
The guide places the garden beside a café, but does not confirm that it is currently open; check before visiting.
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Dogs
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Accessibility
A guide describes a path around the garden. The surface, gradients and wheelchair suitability are not specified; check before visiting.
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Cost
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Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Hampden Park Arboretum and History Garden
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
