By Susan Sanders, Parish Clerk at Westham Parish Council
Westham Parish Council in East Sussex has spent the last two years legally protecting its precious open spaces and recreation grounds with Fields in Trust. These are Adur Park and Butcher’s Field in Westham, and Castle Bolton’s open green space and play areas.
This has been carried out to stop development on our green spaces and resist pressure for more development. Across our local area, green spaces are under increasing pressure as demand for new housing and infrastructure grows. While development plays an important role in meeting community needs, the loss of parks, playing fields, and informal open spaces can have lasting impacts on health, wellbeing, and the character of neighbourhoods.
The Parish Council is now protecting all the open green spaces and play areas that it owns. Sometimes this may be a small open green space that is much loved by residents but has become a ‘ransom strip’ between new developments.
Butcher’s Field was protected in September 2025. It stands in the shadow of Pevensey Castle and is a sight to behold in the spring with wildflowers. The field is part of the history of the area and is seen by many tourists on their way to the castle.
The last thing the Parish Council wanted was to lose this field to either development or other purposes.
Green spaces are essential to everyday life in every community. They provide places for children to play, for people of all ages to be active, and for communities to come together. They also support biodiversity, help improve air quality, and offer vital breathing space in increasingly built-up environments.
It sometimes feels like protecting a green space is about standing in the way of progress but once it has been taken away, it will never return.
Find out more about Fields in Trust's work to legally protect parks, playgrounds, playing fields and green spaces.