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Haywards Heath has some splendid parks and open spaces, giving residents ample places to walk and indulge in outdoor activities.

ALLOTMENTS - The Town Council owns four allotment sites. Two are administered from the Town Hall and the other two have been set up as Allotment Associations. Working an allotment plot is a popular and healthy past time and can be a very rewarding recreational activity. At present demand exceeds availability and the Council has a long waiting list. With the smaller gardens on new developments being the norm more people are looking for allotments. The District Council will take this new interest for allotments into account when they are planning future developments and have land set aside for this activity.

BARN COTTAGE OPEN SPACE - This green “lung” in the heavily populated eastern area of the town, provides a football pitch, a children’s play area and a new pavilion. Recently a Youth Club has been set up for the young people of the area.

BEECH HURST GARDENS - This delightful open space lies just on the edge of the town next to the Police Station and Magistrates Court. From the gardens there are fine views of the South Downs. The gardens were given to the town by the Trustees of the will of the late Mr. W J Yapp, the owner of the house that formerly stood on the site and which was used as a recuperation centre during the first World War. The peaceful ambiance of the gardens has somewhat altered over the years as the District Council has added more facilities and the frontage is now overshadowed by a large Family Restaurant / Public House.

Within the gardens there are tennis courts, children’s play ground, putting green, bowling greens, a mini golf course and boules pitch. Here too, is the famous and extremely popular miniature railway, said to be one of the best in the country.

The District undertakes periodic reviews to see what is the best use of the grounds and whether they should altered or removed.

BLUNTS/PAIGES MEADOWS NATURE RESERVE - These areas of woodland and open fields of approximately 65 acres situated to the north of the town, are wonderful natural open spaces. The woods and two fields were purchased by the former Cuckfield Urban District Council in the early 60’s as a permanent open space between the two settlements of Haywards Heath and Cuckfield. In 1997 the “green belt” was further strengthened when Mid Sussex District Council purchased another 30 acres of open meadowland.

Local residents under a Blunts and Paiges Meadows Steering Group look after the area and have open days when coppicing, pond clearing and tree planting take place. Bluebell walks and bird and bat watching days are also organised.

CLAIR HALL - This hall was built in 1974 following the redevelopment of the towns Community Hall in South Road. It was extended and refurbished in 1997. The building is used for both amateur and professional productions as well as all types of meetings and community events. Now looking its age, plans are being looked at under the Town Revitalisation to either relocate or rebuild it on present site so that Haywards Heath can have a modern, more efficient and effective building fit for purpose.

Attached to the hall is the Age Concern Day Centre which offers an excellent service to the elderly of the town. This too, could be moved or improved under plans being assessed at present.

DOLPHIN LEISURE CENTRE - This leisure complex is situated near to the station and again has had several makeovers since it was built in 1974. There is a main swimming pool and a children’s pool. Recent alterations have done away with the diving pool. This has been converted into a private members pool area as part of a new fitness suite, which also includes saunas, steam room and jacuzzi.

The centre also has a large dry sports hall, squash court, fitness room, meeting rooms and large café/bar area.

THE HEATH RECREATION GROUND - This park, known to locals as “the Heath” and by others since 1974, as Clair Meadow, as the Clair Hall was built on the former St Clair School playing fields, was once part of the original heath around which the town has grown. There is also a children’s playground. The entire site is now surrounded by houses, which makes this open space with its woodland walks an even more precious asset to the town as a whole. It is now within a Conservation Area.

The park is also home to the Haywards Heath Cricket Club

MUSTER GREEN - This is another of the town’s Conservation Areas and it is not hard to see why. The tree lined green is maintained to a high standard by the Town Council. With its traditional flower beds and bordered as it is, by Victorian and Edwardian houses, the green is a welcoming eye catching entrance to the town. Over the last few years the Town Council has held a Tulip/Spring Festival on the green in April, when the spring flowers are at their best.

At the top of the green is the town’s war memorial refurbished by the Town Council for the Millennium. At this end too, stands the Dolphin Public House, one of the oldest listed buildings in the town. It was built in the 16th century and was originally known as “Vinalls”. It returned to the original name of the Dolphin following being taken over by Vintage Inns before which it had been known as The Sergison Arms for 130 years. The Sergisons, through marriage to the Warden family, who owned most of the land which made up Haywards Heath, had Dolphins on their coat of arms.

VICTORIA PARK - Another of the town’s assets, Victoria Park is situated right in the town centre. 141/2 acres of open space draws people from all over Haywards Heath to enjoy formal and informal activities.

The main area of the park is laid out as a football pitch for most of the year. Around its edges an undulating circular walk can be enjoyed. There are three tennis courts, an enclosed youths’ area containing skateboards ramps. There is also a newly refurbished children’s play ground together with a much loved paddling pool. On a high plateau built from the spoil of excavations from the railway, which overlooks the rest of the park, is a popular wooded area where residents can relax or walk their dogs. This area is especially lovely in spring and autumn with the differing seasonal colours of the trees, ideal for family picnics at the weekend or a quiet sandwich lunch during the working day.

The local deer can often be seen on this plateau and sometimes when it is quiet in the early morning they can be seen through the mist grazing on the main part of the park.

Victoria Park is also the venue for the Town’s Summer Festivals and organised Fireworks Displays.

JUBILEE GARDENS - This circular garden is at the south entrance to the town in Caxton Way, off the Sussex roundabout. This garden was laid down to commemorate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. It has several seats around the circle where shoppers/visitors can rest awhile and take in the sight and smells of the lovely flowers.

THE PEACE GARDEN - On the other side of the Sussex roundabout on the corner of Hazelgrove Road is the town’s Peace Garden. Here you will find a little area set aside surrounded by Peace roses. There is a sign dedicated to world peace. The primary school children of Haywards Heath made up poems and the Town Council had the board made up so that people could stop and read these words of wisdom from the younger generation.

SCRASE VALLEY NATURE RESERVE - This stretch of land between Haywards Heath and Lindfield has been preserved as a wet land nature reserve and is ideal for nature walks, bird watching and for local school’ field trips. Again this open space area will be kept as a green boundary between the town of Haywards Heath and the village of Lindfield.

ASHENGROUND AND BOLNORE WOODS - The developers of Bolnore Village handed over the woods surrounding the development site to the District Council who will be responsible for the upkeep and maintenance. As with other such sites around the town a Steering Group has been set up of interested residents to carry out the various tasks of keeping the woods clear of rubbish and scrub land. The woods are an important part of the recreational facilities surrounding the housing development and used by many for walks in a natural habitat rich in flora and fauna.

Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication and the statements contained herein are believed to be correct, the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies. Reproduction of any part of this publication in any format, without permission, is strictly forbidden. This Guide to Haywards Heath Town is written by the Town Clerk for the Council and it is hoped that it will prove useful to local residents, visitors and to those who might be contemplating moving to the Town. Thanks are expressed to the advertisers whose participation has made it possible to produce this Guide. It is hoped that you will support them, thereby helping to promote the Town. Acknowledgments to: The Town Clerk Carole M. Preston, Photographs - Carole M Preston