Walk the Chalk Celebration Week to put Seaford on the map this September
August 8, 2023
As part of a year-long, national initiative to raise awareness of our coastline and inspire new audiences to love, visit and protect the coast, a glorious celebration of the newly renamed King Charles III England Coast Path will take place between Seaford and Cuckmere Haven, 20 – 24 September.
Presented by LYT Productions, who are responsible for the hugely successful 2021 Tide Mills Project, in partnership with Visit Lewes, Walk The Chalk will be a free five-day event with opportunities for the coastal community to meet, celebrate and volunteer – and for visitors to explore this beautiful and biodiverse area, part of the South Downs National Park, owned by Seaford Town Council and managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust. The project has been made possible by support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The events will centre on South Hill Barn, at Seaford Head – in view of one of the most iconic coastal panoramas in the country, the magnificent Seven Sisters.
There will be opportunities to explore the coastal path with a wide range of free bookable guided walks, where visitors can learn about local flora and fauna, chalk, fossils, geology, history and folklore, and the impact of climate change on this special location. There will be workshops, musical performances, arts activities, talks and debates – and six specially commissioned installations on the trail.
Wandering performers, dressed as characters from the history of the site, including smugglers, soldiers, coastguards and Iron Age Fort dwellers will allow visitors a ghostly glimpse into the past.
Regular, free shuttle buses will transport visitors from Newhaven and Seaford Stations to The View, South Hill Barn and Exceat – and back – during the celebratory week, and the team are encouraging visitors to travel by public transport, foot or bike. The site will be fully accessible to everyone, including those who would normally struggle to access the coastal path, using electric vehicles and all terrain mobility scooters.
Find out more about Walk The Chalk, including volunteering opportunities, what’s on and how to book, from the website: www.walkthechalk.org