By Lyn Funnell
We’ve been visiting the National Trust sites that are decorated for Christmas.
Our latest visit was to Sheffield Park Gardens in Sussex.
There are Elves with different names around the route, all decorated and made by various designers. And each of them stands surrounded by the beautiful Sheffield Park landscape.
You can see the original house in the distance, which has been converted into apartments.
There are lakes and waterfalls, and ducks and geese everywhere!
As the Elves are well-spaced out, it’s a nice leisurely stroll with no groups of people or hold-ups. It’s easy to stop and examine the Elves and take photos.
And there are also some fun games to play, like throwing balls through holes, and having a race with hobby-reindeer!
We jumped as we approached one Elf. From far away it looked as though he was swinging his legs!
But when we got nearer, we saw that the light was shining through a tree and it really looked as though he was moving!
Stormy the Dog poked his face through a soldier cut-out to have his photo taken. He’s so vain!
The theme was a similar set-up to last year’s The Snowman.
https://unknownkentandsussex.co.uk/in-search-of-the-snowman/
But it’s so well arranged that everyone’s gradually on the move all the time, so people are constantly arriving and leaving, which means that parking is easy.
And they have several fields for overflow parking when it’s busy.
I was pleased that there are three toilets blocks, one in the car park, one through the entrance, and one in the café.
It’s very important to have good loo facilities, because a lot of people travel a long way to visit National Trust sites, and of course, children need to go when they need to!
The café is down a path, in the Old Coach House, and there’s a book shop there too.
We took a picnic and there are loads of benches and seats scattered around.
I do recommend a visit there. But it’s quite muddy in places, so do take suitable footwear.
I wonder what they’ll do next Christmas?
Sheffield Park and Garden
Sussex
Acres of Grade I listed landscaped garden and lakes, surrounded by historic parkland and woodland
Sheffield Park,
Uckfield,
East Sussex,
TN22 3QX
01825790231
sheffieldpark@nationaltrust.org.uk
