Improvements to the Cuckoo Trail

The Cuckoo Trail is a picturesque, mainly off-road route running for eleven miles from Polegate to Heathfield. We have been awarded £645,000 in funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to enhance it and in order to make sure this money is spent in the best way possible, we created a Cuckoo Trail masterplan.

We are interested in hearing your views. Whether you are a walker, runner, cyclist or horse rider that uses the Trail, we welcome your feedback on our exciting improvement plans. Use our ideas board below to tell us what you'd like to see happen, even add a photo to bring your idea to life!

Masterplan Projects and Priorities

A Cuckoo Trail masterplan was created to set out how, along with key partners, we were going to approach and deliver several projects using the UKSPF funding. We conducted user research in 2020/21 and aligned this with our Cuckoo Trail strategy created in July 2022.

There are 3 key themes to our approach, People, Place and Nature.

The Projects

Eastwell Bridge arts project - this project was successfully completed in partnership with Hailsham Festival of Arts. £7,200 of Shared Prosperity funding was provided to improve the bridge which had suffered from graffiti for many years. Over 250 local artists submitted artwork to be included on the Eastwell Place Bridge, 77 pieces were selected and installed on the inner faces of the bridge. Over 150 people attended the unveiling. We are glad to say this project has greatly reduced the graffiti on this bridge.

Horam station hub is at an ideal location along the Cuckoo Trail to have a ‘hub’ or meeting place. It is a large piece of land that offers the opportunity to meet friends and family, take a break after a long walk or cycle, and stroll around the remnants of the old Horam train station. We are currently working with industry experts to develop plans for the site. These may include a refreshment kiosk, landscaping improvements and enhancements to the existing historical features including the old railway platform and signs. Draft designs have been received and a planning application will be submitted in October 2024. Site improvements will commence and be completed by the end of March 2025.

Signage and wayfinding are so important when navigating along the Trail, exploring heritage and history of the local area, and finding out about the amenities and attractions close by. A Signage and Wayfinding Strategy has been developed. This strategy reviews the existing signage, provides design templates and a new Cuckoo Trail brand identity. This will ensure consistency of signage along the length of the trail and improve accessibility of information. Signage will better reflect the history of the trail and promote the many fantastic amenities located nearby. Improvements to the signage and wayfinding will be delivered in early 2024.

Heathfield picnic area. Improvements to the accessibility and layout of the Heathfield picnic area have been made. Enhancements include widening of both of the access paths, resurfacing the picnic area to further improve accessibility and installation of new furniture, including wheelchair friendly picnic tables.

Summerhill outdoor gym encourages people to move more and take full advantage of the many health and mental wellbeing benefits of being outdoors. The project looks to utilise the wide verges on the Hailsham to Polegate stretch of the trail and has seen eleven pieces of outdoor gym equipment installed such as a balance beam, overhead ladder and sit up bench. This stretch is ideal for many people as it is within easy walking distance of Hailsham and Polegate.

Cuckoo Trail arts and heritage programme is being delivered with the aim of improving pride of place and a sense of ownership of the Trail. The activities focus on engaging local residents, of all ages and abilities, along the trail. This programme has seen a children’s workbook produced, engagement with local schools and Men’s Shed who have made wooden bird boxes. An augmented reality will be available a new sculpture is planned for 2024

Vegetation enhancement and management opportunities to improve the biodiversity of the trail are currently being explored. Interventions to support wildlife and vegetation will mainly be delivered through the current Cuckoo Trail maintenance contract. However, where feasible, improvements to the biodiversity will be considered in the remaining SPF Cuckoo Trail projects and beyond.

A green gym and series of health walks are being delivered along the Cuckoo Trail by the Conservation Volunteers until March 2025. It is available, free of charge, for residents to take part in and is a great way to meet new people, develop new skills and learn more about the local area. This programme aims to improve pride of place, sense of community ownership of the trail whilst helping to protect and enhance the sustainability of the trail. Details of which can be found at the following link.

We are interested in hearing your views. Whether you are a walker, runner, cyclist or horse rider that uses the Trail, we welcome your feedback on our exciting improvement plans.

Use our ideas board below to tell us what you'd like to see happen, even add a photo to bring your idea to life!