About Lindfield

lindfield signpost

Lindfield is a flourishing, active, modern community, famed for its rich historic and architectural heritage. The ancient High Street, lined with lime trees, has many individual shops which are well worth exploring. It is regarded as one of the finest in Sussex with over forty medieval and post medieval timber-framed houses.

Lindfield PondThe village stands on high ground above the upper reaches of the River Ouse. It is ideally situated, being close to both the unspoilt natural beauty of the High Weald and to Haywards Heath town with its amenities and station on the main London-Brighton railway line.

At the bottom of the High Street is the natural springfed pond with its fish, ducks, visiting swans and the occasional heron.

Beyond lies the Common which, over the centuries, has witnessed many events - fairs, festivals, bonfire celebrations and sporting activities Fair- cricket has been played here since 1747. Today, it is still central to village celebrations and leisure activities. In addition to the Common there is the Hickmans Lane recreation ground providing pitches for cricket, football, stoolball and a children’s play area.

King Edward hall often hosts exhibitions and other events. The many clubs, groups and societies together with the strong church membership contribute to a sense of identity and community spirit.

Nature and the Countryside

The Eastern Road Nature Reserve, off Lewes Road, is a nine acre reserve alongside the Scrase Stream. It is managed to encourage diverse vegetation which supports a wealth of wildlife. Myriads of insects and butterflies, together with the autumn fruits, provide food for resident and visiting birds such as warblers, finches and siskins. The wetland areas sustain healthy populations of frogs, newts, dragonflies and other aquatic insects.

The attractive and unspoilt countryside around Lindfield is part of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which runs through Sussex, Surrey and Kent. The High Weald, an ancient landscape with its small fields, abundant woodlands, rolling hills, narrow steep valleys, heaths and sandstone outcrops, is one of England’s unique landscapes. Ashdown Forest is five miles northeast of the village.

Footpaths with fine views across the Ouse valley radiate into the High Weald from Lindfield. They can be accessed by following finger posts. For the keen walker, the High Weald Landscape Trail and Sussex Border Path pass close to Lindfield linking with these local paths.

All paths are clearly shown on the Ordnance Survey Explorer 135 map.

Around Lindfield

Places to visit include: Ardingly Reservoir, the Bluebell Railway, Borde Hill Gardens, and the National Trust properties at Nymans and Sheffield Park. Another National Trust property Wakehurst Place, the country home of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew with the Millennium Seed Bank, lies four miles to the north of the village.