Withdean Park

I first discovered Withdean Park at a period of my Brighton life when I was literally thirsting for greenery. On an aimless walk from the recycling area at the stadium I ventured greedily into the woodland on my right, in the hopes of nothing more than a copse, but was delighted to discover what amounts to a rare plant museum on the other side, bordered by semi-​mature trees. Home to one of the largest collections of lilacs in the world, the park also has unobtrusive little information boards dotted about which condense the knowledge of the horticulturalists into fascinating little snippets to muse on as you reel in the heady lilac perfume. Turning the corner at the bottom is an unexpected and picturesque little lily pond, maintained with the help of volunteers, which has a number of other water plants besides and is the habitat for stunning dragonflies. There’s also a young arboretum, with a few older trees, all of which are unusual varieties of the English classics. This has to be Brighton’s best park for gardening enthusiasts, as it’s a bit more unusual than your run of the mill rose garden but just as beautifully set out. It’s a beautiful setting to watch the sunset from, and as the light dies way you’re left with nothing but the lingering scent of flowers and grasses.