Preston Park Rock Gardens 2 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🌿 Foraging
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 2 ha
Places › England › South East › Brighton and Hove Getting here
50.83982, -0.15059
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ 🌞 Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings 🌿 Foraging is at its best in summer here 🐕 Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days 🌤️ Visiting this summer
🌞 Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings 🌿 Foraging is at its best in summer here 🐕 Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🚲 Bike parking🅿️ Parking· Paid 🚻 Toilets
🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Blackbird, Herring Gull, Robin +49 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Blackbird, Herring Gull, Robin +49 more · last seen 2026
Free
Plants — Common Nettle, Garlic Mustard, Elder +17 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Herb-Robert, Groundsel +144 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Herb-Robert, Groundsel +144 more · last seen 2026
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Marmalade Hoverfly, 7-spot Ladybird, Batman Hoverfly +88 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Marmalade Hoverfly, 7-spot Ladybird, Batman Hoverfly +88 more · last seen 2026
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 12 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Monarch's Way Walking route 990 km ▾
approximate route of Charles II's escape
Named route Ref MW Length 990 km Regional walking route
Show on map South Downs Way Walking route 160 km ▾
Named route Length 160 km National walking route
Show on map Ditchling Beacon to Devil's Dyke, South Downs walk, Sussex East Walking route 11.2 km ▾
This walk takes in one of the most stunning sections of the South Downs Way. Spring & Summer bring rich plant life thanks to the chalk soil, forming unique grassland habitat. Great bus links from Brighton. Mostly flat until Pyecombe where it gets steep.
Named route Length 11.2 km Duration 03:00 Point-to-point Regional walking route
Show on map Rampart Ramble, Sussex East Walking route 1.3 km ▾
Stroll around the old walls of the Iron Age hill fort. Take in views over the Weald & Brighton. Look out for remains of the curious Victorian funfair riders & in summer, walk through a meadow of orchids & butterflies. Suitable for pushchairs when dry
Named route Length 1.3 km Duration 00:30 Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Newhaven-Brighton Clifftop Path Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map 146 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Hove Park Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Undercliff Walk Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Three Cornered Copse bridleway Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map The Level Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Preston Street contraflow lane Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Church Road cycle contraflow/cut-throughs Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map 1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
South Downs Way Mountain bike route ▾
Named route Ref 89 National Cycle Network
Show on map Photos Preston Rock Garden and Preston Park
‹ ›
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
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id: df2bf00a-6b2f-407d-81bf-77540e841fb0
UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
© 2026 Glade · Made with care for UK green spaces
Wildlife to spot
45,340 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 45,340 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 22 species
autumn winter
2026 ▾
Robin · Herring Gull · Jay · Magpie · Black-headed Gull +17
Robin Erithacus rubecula Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius Magpie Pica pica Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Carrion Crow Corvus corone Dunnock Prunella modularis House Sparrow Passer domesticus Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Blackbird Turdus merula Rock Dove Columba livia Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Goldcrest Regulus regulus2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii2025 🐸 Amphibians 4 species
spring
2026 ▾
Smooth Newt · Common Frog · Common Toad · Marsh Frog
Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris Common Frog Rana temporaria Common Toad Bufo bufo Marsh Frog Pelophylax ridibundus Pea-leaf Weevil · Meliscaeva auricollis · Lesser Stag Beetle · Syrphus · Epistrophe eligans +4
Pea-leaf Weevil Sitona lineatus Meliscaeva auricollis Meliscaeva auricollis Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus Syrphus Syrphus Epistrophe eligans Epistrophe eligans Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax Eristalis tenax Ivy-leaved Toadflax · Groundsel · Holly · Red Dead-nettle · Cleavers +43
Ivy-leaved Toadflax Cymbalaria muralis Groundsel Senecio vulgaris Holly Ilex aquifolium Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum Cleavers Galium aparine Hart's-Tongue Asplenium scolopendrium Common Nettle Urtica dioica Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 45,340 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 22 species
autumn winter
2026 ▾
Robin · Herring Gull · Jay · Magpie · Black-headed Gull +17
Robin Erithacus rubecula Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius Magpie Pica pica Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Carrion Crow Corvus corone Dunnock Prunella modularis House Sparrow Passer domesticus Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Blackbird Turdus merula Rock Dove Columba livia Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Goldcrest Regulus regulus2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii2025 🐸 Amphibians 4 species
spring
2026 ▾
Smooth Newt · Common Frog · Common Toad · Marsh Frog
Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris Common Frog Rana temporaria Common Toad Bufo bufo Marsh Frog Pelophylax ridibundus Pea-leaf Weevil · Meliscaeva auricollis · Lesser Stag Beetle · Syrphus · Epistrophe eligans +4
Pea-leaf Weevil Sitona lineatus Meliscaeva auricollis Meliscaeva auricollis Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus Syrphus Syrphus Epistrophe eligans Epistrophe eligans Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax Eristalis tenax Ivy-leaved Toadflax · Groundsel · Holly · Red Dead-nettle · Cleavers +43
Ivy-leaved Toadflax Cymbalaria muralis Groundsel Senecio vulgaris Holly Ilex aquifolium Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum Cleavers Galium aparine Hart's-Tongue Asplenium scolopendrium Common Nettle Urtica dioica Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Eristalis tenax
Eristalis tenax
Notiophilus substriatus Notiophilus substriatus
Notiophilus substriatus Notiophilus substriatus
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis2025
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis2025
Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum
Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum
Yellow Corydalis Pseudofumaria lutea
Yellow Corydalis Pseudofumaria lutea
Pellitory-of-the-wall Parietaria judaica
Pellitory-of-the-wall Parietaria judaica
Alder Alnus glutinosa
Alder Alnus glutinosa
Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum
Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum
Winter Heliotrope Petasites pyrenaicus
Winter Heliotrope Petasites pyrenaicus
Lords-and-Ladies Arum maculatum
Lords-and-Ladies Arum maculatum
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata
Annual Mercury Mercurialis annua2025
Annual Mercury Mercurialis annua2025
Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii2025
Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii2025
Taraxacum agg. Taraxacum agg.
Taraxacum agg. Taraxacum agg.
Hollyhock Alcea rosea
Hollyhock Alcea rosea
Mexican Fleabane Erigeron karvinskianus
Mexican Fleabane Erigeron karvinskianus
Smooth Sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus
Smooth Sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus
Pink Shepherd's-purse Capsella rubella
Pink Shepherd's-purse Capsella rubella
Common Striated Feather-moss Eurhynchium striatum
Common Striated Feather-moss Eurhynchium striatum
Evergreen Spindle Euonymus japonicus
Evergreen Spindle Euonymus japonicus
Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata
Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata
Sweet Violet Viola odorata
Sweet Violet Viola odorata
Cherry Plum Prunus cerasifera
Cherry Plum Prunus cerasifera
Portugal Laurel Prunus lusitanica
Portugal Laurel Prunus lusitanica
Grey Field-speedwell Veronica polita
Grey Field-speedwell Veronica polita
Common Feather-moss Kindbergia praelonga
Common Feather-moss Kindbergia praelonga
Sanicle Sanicula europaea
Sanicle Sanicula europaea
Wood Avens Geum urbanum
Wood Avens Geum urbanum
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris
Elder Sambucus nigra
Elder Sambucus nigra
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium
Beech Fagus sylvatica
Beech Fagus sylvatica
Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa
Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa
Daisy Bellis perennis
Daisy Bellis perennis
Primrose Primula vulgaris
Primrose Primula vulgaris
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna
Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna
Evergreen Oak Quercus ilex
Evergreen Oak Quercus ilex
Wall-rue Asplenium ruta-muraria
Wall-rue Asplenium ruta-muraria
Mistletoe Viscum album
Mistletoe Viscum album
Trailing Bellflower Campanula poscharskyana2025
Trailing Bellflower Campanula poscharskyana2025
Clustered Feather-moss Rhynchostegium confertum2025
Clustered Feather-moss Rhynchostegium confertum2025
Elegant Bristle-moss Orthotrichum pulchellum2025
Elegant Bristle-moss Orthotrichum pulchellum2025
Cherry Prunus2025
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