What is the BLUE Campaign?

This year, the Council are supporting the BLUE Campaign’s ‘Rewilding Britain’ nationwide initiative to help combat this loss by allowing 40 areas in the District to ‘rewild’.  These special areas are identified by blue heart information signs and blue heart symbols at larger sites.

Rewilding sites in Mid Sussex

Following successful trials in 2020 and 2021, the Council received further requests for additional sites and a total of 40 areas of open space have been identified for rewilding across the District this summer.

These sites are roped off at the start of the growing season and can be easily identified by blue heart signs and symbols.

A list of the BLUE campaign rewilding areas in Mid Sussex can be found by clicking the drop down arrow below or find their location by clicking on our interactive map.

BLUE Campaign Areas 2022

Site Name

Town

Albourne Recreation Ground

Albourne

Ansty Recreation Ground

Ansty

John Pears Recreation Ground

Ashurstwood

Newlands Open Space

Balcombe

Cants Lane Open Space

Burgess Hill

Chanctonbury Road Open Space

Burgess Hill

Chestnut Close Open Space

Burgess Hill

Greenlands Drive Open Space

Burgess Hill

Maple Drive Open Space

Burgess Hill

Marle Place Recreation Ground

Burgess Hill

Orchard Road Open Space

Burgess Hill

Railway Lane North Open Space

Burgess Hill

Royal George Recreation Ground

Burgess Hill

Triangle Open Space

Burgess Hill

Wisden Avenue Open Space

Burgess Hill

Humphry’s Field Recreation Ground

Copthorne

Burleigh Wood Estate Open Space

Crawley Down

Cuckfield Recreation Ground

Cuckfield

Whitemans Green Open Space

Cuckfield

Brooklands Park

East Grinstead

East Court Recreation Ground

East Grinstead

Farm Close Meadows

East Grinstead

Herons Ghyll Open Space

East Grinstead

Imberhorne Lane Recreation Ground

East Grinstead

Maple Drive Open Space

East Grinstead

Keymer Cemetery

Hassocks

Shepherds Walk Open Space (once Network Rail works are completed)

Hassocks

Beech Hurst Gardens

Haywards Heath

Butlers Green Open Space

Haywards Heath

Clair Park

Haywards Heath

Dolphin Leisure Centre

Haywards Heath

Frankton Avenue Open Space

Haywards Heath

Heath Road Car Park

Haywards Heath

Oaklands

Haywards Heath

Vale Road Open Space

Haywards Heath

Woodvale Lane Open Space

Haywards Heath

Constance Wood Recreation Ground

Horsted Keynes

Nursery Close Open Space

Hurstpierpoint

Lindfield Common

Lindfield

West Common Open Space

 Lindfield

 

2021 Growing Season

See our 2021 Campaign

All 25 BLUE Campaign sites across the District grew well over the summer and a variety of different meadow grasses and wildflowers appeared, greatly benefitting wildlife.  

Birdsfoot trefoil, yarrow, red and white clovers, dandelion, ragwort and oxeye daisy, were all seen blooming at a number of our BLUE Campaign meadows. Birdsfoot trefoil alone can support over 150 species, and the good news is, that we recorded it at a great many of our sites this summer.

At most sites we counted at least 10 wildflower species, over 15 at many sites and over 35 species at a couple of really biodiverse sites.  We also saw bee orchids at a site in Burgess Hill and common spotted orchids at various sites across the District.

 Bee Orchids, Burgess Hill

Common Spotted Orchid, Burgess Hill

Meadow at Butlers Green

We’ve also spotted numerous butterflies such as meadow browns, skippers, peacocks and whites, as well as plenty of other insects including, moths, caterpillars, bees, beetles, plant bugs, grasshoppers, beetles, dragonflies, damselflies, plus other invertebrates such as spiders.   

These sites have now been cut and cleared so might be looking a little bare. This is important to keep the soil fertility low which benefits the wildflowers and grasses we are trying to encourage.  

How to get involved

At Home

If you have an area of your garden you can leave to rewild this will help to support all the animals and insects in your garden. More information can be found on the BLUE Campaign's gardeners page 

At School

Schools can get involved too through the Eco schools programme (part of Keep Britain Tidy). All schools can sign up to and join the Eco-schools programme and as part of this follow the BLUE Campaign. To find out more please visit the Schools page on the BLUE Campaign website

At Our Sites

If you live close to one of our BLUE heart sites, you can help by taking photos throughout the growing season of different plants, insects, birds and wildlife that you see. Send your photos, with the location and date the photo was taken via email to parksopenspaces@midsussex.gov.uk  The team can then use this information to help build up a list of the different species found at each site.

Last updated: 10 June 2022