Lavington Common
LAVINGTON COMMON
Duncton GU28 0QL (18 miles)
Lavington Common is a rare survivor of an open landscape that once stretched across the Weald. Its sandy soil leads up to the chalk escarpment on the South Downs, creating this renowned lowland heath, rich in lichens and bryophytes (mosses and liverworts). Heathers flourish here providing shelter and breeding grounds for reptiles such as adders and sand lizards, and heathland insects such as the Green Tiger Beetle.
Harting Down
Harting Down
Nr South Harting GU31 5PN (13 miles)
Harting Down is one of the largest areas of ancient chalk downland cared for by the National Trust. A tapestry of pristine downland blends beautifully with scattered scrub and woodland. Experience a sense of timelessness where sheep have grazed for thousands of years. When you reach the brows of the hilltops you are greeted by views north across the Weald and south to the Isle of Wight.
Slindon Estate
SLINDON ESTATE
Slindon BN18 0RG (13 miles)
Slindon Estate is 1,400 hectares of woodland, downland, farmland and parkland. With countless historic landscape features and its unspoilt Sussex village, there is something for every visitor. Take in the long wide views down to the Weald, along the Downs and out across the coastal plain to the sea.
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday
Welcome to our first Millstream blog!
For this blog we have teamed up with our head chef, Neil Hiskey. Neil has created a seasonal theme and focussed on Shrove Tuesday (13th February) and shared his own Crepes Suzettes recipe.
Shrove Tuesday is the day in February or March immediately preceding Ash Wednesday. It is traditionally known as the last day of indulgence before the fasting period of Lent. Shrove Tuesday and the tradition of pancakes gives observers the last day of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of such foods for 40 days, which begins on Ash Wednesday.
Neil has put together his favourite pancake recipe for you to try at home.
Pancake ingredients
- 55g melted butter
- 2 eggs
- 25g sugar
- 200g flour
- 375ml milk
- Pinch of salt
Method
Mix the warm melted butter with the flour, sugar, salt and eggs. Slowly add the milk and pass.
Sauce ingredients
- 600ml orange juice
- Zest of 4 oranges
- Zest and juice of 2 lemons
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 10 tablespoons Grand Marnier
- 200g butter
Method
Mix together apart from the butter. Reduce by half and whisk in the butter to thicken the sauce, pass.
Neil’s top tip:
Prepare the sauce first and once the sauce is made, it can be left to one side whilst you cook the pancakes. Once the pancakes are done, warm up the sauce and pour over a pancake that’s been folded into quarters. Serve with good vanilla ice cream for the prefect finish.
Share your photos with us!
We would love to see photos of you enjoying Neil’s recipe. We will be giving away an afternoon tea for two for the best photograph of the recipe being prepared! So please take a snap and tell us what you think, sending your entry to us via our Facebook or Twitter pages. Good luck and enjoy!
Petworth House and Park
PETWORTH HOUSE AND PARK
Petworth GU28 9LR (20 miles)
The vast late 17th-century mansion is set in a beautiful 283-hectare (700-acre) deer park, landscaped by Capability Brown and immortalised in Turner’s paintings. The house contains the National Trust’s finest collection of pictures, with numerous works by Turner, Van Dyck, Reynolds and Blake, ancient and Neo-classical sculpture, fine furniture and carvings by Grinling Gibbons. The servants’ quarters contain fascinating kitchens (including a copper batterie de cuisine of more than 1,000 pieces) and other service rooms.
Uppark House
UPPARK HOUSE
South Harting GU31 5QR (12 miles)
Perched on its vantage points high on the South Downs ridge, Uppark commands views as far south as the English Channel. The gardens are gradually being restored to their original 18th century design with the nearby meadow and woodland great for exploring. The Houses’ Georgian interior illustrate the comfort of life upstairs in contrast to the servant’s downstairs.
Drovers Estate
DROVERS ESTATE
Singleton PO18 0HA (9 miles)
Drovers is a hidden estate nestling in the undulating hills and valleys of the South Downs. Here you can step back to a timeless rural life, set amidst shady woodland and rolling ancient pastures, punctuated by traditional flint cottages and barns. It provides an insight into traditional management which has formed the working landscape that we see today.
Parham House and Gardens
PARHAM HOUSE AND GARDENS
Storrington RH20 4HS (21 miles)
Parham is one of Sussex’s finest Elizabethan Houses, complete with Great Hall and Long Gallery. The gardens consist of seven acres of pleasure grounds and a four-acre walled garden. There are stunning herbaceous borders, a glasshouse, vegetable garden, orchard and a 1920s wendy house.
Bignor Roman Villa
BIGNOR ROMAN VILLA
Bignor RH20 1PH (19 miles)
Bignor Roman Villa is the stunning remains of a Roman home and farm with world-class mosaic floors in a spectacular Downland setting. Learn why the Roman owners chose to develop such a magnificent settlement at Bignor in the 3rd Century AD and how they acquired wealth from its location. Outside the Roman Villa, walk through the beautiful Nyetimber vineyard and explore the endless footpaths and stunning villages in the heart of South Downs National Park.
Cowdray
COWDRAY
Midhurst GU29 0AQ (15 miles)
Cowdray is a historic house set in Midhurst and is one of England’s most important early Tudor houses. This visitor attraction, visited by Queen Elizabeth I and King Henry VIII, was partially destroyed by fire in 1793. Its magnificent ruins are set in the stunning landscape of Cowdray Park, in the heart of the South Downs National Park. Cowdray plays host to special events throughout the season, including outdoor theatre and period re-enactments.