Sussex sites named in 21 best National Trust winter visits

The article names the 21 best National Trust properties across the UK to visit in the winter months, with Sussex the only county to feature twice on the list.

The National Trust calls Sheffield Park a ‘wildlife haven’ (Image: Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons) The first to feature on the list is Sheffield Park and Garden, near Haywards Heath.

According to the National Trust, the Grade I listed garden is “a horticultural work of art formed through centuries of landscape design. Four lakes form the heart of the garden, with paths circulating through the glades and wooded areas surrounding them.

“This area has been transformed into a wildlife haven and is home to a diverse range of species including kingfishers, birds of prey, butterflies, and dragonflies, besides many different tree and shrub species from around the world.”

Described by The Times as looking “particularly beautiful in winter,” the gardens will be open daily across the holidays from 9am-4pm.

Petworth House is also featured (Image: Martinvl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons) The second Sussex spot to feature in the article is Petworth House and Park, near the small town also called Petworth.

According to the National Trust website, the 17th-century Petworth House “displays one of the finest art collections in the care of the National Trust,” including artwork by Van Dyck, Turner, Reynolds and Gainsborough.

It adds: “Outside, the Pleasure Garden features formal borders, woodland walks, and architectural features, such as the Ionic Rotunda.”

Part of the Pleasure Garden at Petworth (Image: Pam Fray, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons) Petworth also contains a 700-acre deer park home to ancient trees and fallow deer, while its ‘Ancient Trees’ walk is described by The Times as “a wonderful trail to explore the grounds in winter.”