Paradise Park - Return of the Gnomes

Once upon a time there were hundreds of gnomes nestling in the flowerbeds of Paradise Park. But one night, (long ago we suspect) they suddenly disappeared, never to be seen again. Until now that is. We’ve just heard on the grapevine (surely some form of toadstool reference would be better here?) that for one week, and one week only, they will be returning to their old gnomestead. OK, the truth is, it’s half term, and the folks at Paradise Park are laying on a gnome trail through their excellent exhibition and gardens site. As usual your kids will have hours of fun following the trail, which winds through the Museum of Life, the Dinosaur Safari and the botanical plant houses, before following the Sussex Heritage trail through the well planned gardens. There’s also the indoor and outdoor play areas and the model train to ride - which handily gives you a chance to grab a well-earned cuppa in the recently refurbished café.

Also on the site is the rather wonderful Maritime Museum, which is well worth a visit before you leave. Run independently by the Newhaven Historical Society, the museum houses a surprisingly large number of maritime artefacts. This weekend is a particularly good time to visit as they have just started exhibiting a model of the Royal Sovereign Tower, the lighthouse, which in various forms has attempted since 1875 to stop ships from beaching on the Royal Sovereign Shoal near Eastbourne. NW