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About Rother & Hastings District

Rother district covers some 200 square miles and is a predominantly rural district. The importance of the environment is evidenced by the fact that some 82% of the district is designated as ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ (AONB), while a further 7% of the district not in the AONB is either nationally or internationally designated for its nature conservation value. A review of the extent of Ancient Woodland shows that this is also significant, covering over 15% of the district – the greatest of any district in the South East.

Hastings is located between the sea and the High Weald. Its issues and potential are distinctly urban rather than rural, however consideration does need to be made of protected landscapes and countryside such as the Hastings Country Park, the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB,) a European designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) at Hastings Cliffs, 3 nationally designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Combe Haven Valley, Marline Valley and Hastings Cliffs to Pett Beach, 8 Local Nature Reserves (LNR) and 25 Local Wildlife Sites. These are the priority natural areas, and together with the coast, rivers, woods, streams, fields, parks and open spaces, are the assets that make up the natural fabric of the town. The town has 8 miles of coastline and is surrounded by the mainly rural district of Rother, bordered by the High Weald to the north, Combe Haven Valley to the west and Fairlight to the east.

CPRE Rother and Hastings works to protect these unique natural features and also promote the wellbeing of local communities.