The future of Tenants Hill in Worthing
Welcome to our dedicated webpage where you can find out more about the potential sale of Tenants Hill, one of Worthing's chalk grassland sites, to Sussex Wildlife Trust.
We know many of you will have questions about the potential transfer, so we have created this webpage to provide some more information and address any concerns you may have.
Tenants Hill - what's being proposed?
Sussex Wildlife Trust has approached us about the possibility of purchasing Tenants Hill, one of Worthing's gateways to the South Downs National Park, which offers many opportunities for nature recovery.
The site, located to the north of Lyons Farm, is currently farmed by a tenant and is close to Cissbury Ring, a significant historical and environmental landmark which is owned and managed by the National Trust.
Sussex Wildlife Trust - a non-profit organisation that works across the county to enable nature to thrive - is interested in buying Tenants Hill to increase the biodiversity of the site and embark on a long-term plan to restore it as high-quality chalk grassland, which is an internationally important habitat.
One of the ways the trust would achieve this is by grazing its conservation herd on the site. This would benefit a wide range of birds like Skylarks, insects such as the Adonis blue butterfly and plants including the round-headed rampion, also called the Pride of Sussex.
Importantly, public access would be retained through the site, which is dedicated for public access under Section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, certifying it as a space that can be enjoyed by residents and nature for generations to come. The trust also expects to offer volunteering opportunities for local people who want to get closer to nature.
Where is Tenants Hill?
The site is located to the north of Lyons Farm in Worthing. The southern entrance to the site runs alongside some of the land owned by Worthing Golf Club, and it extends northwards up to the south-eastern foot of Cissbury Ring. In total, the site is approximately 169 acres, which is the equivalent of 128 football pitches.
Worthing Borough Council is the current owner of Tenants Hill and has owned the land for many years. Most of the surrounding land is either owned by the council, the National Trust or Worthing Golf Club. Some of the land is also privately owned.
Together with our environmental partners, we are working to deliver even greater spaces for nature to thrive and for our residents and visitors to enjoy.
Exploring a Cissbury Landscape Vision
We are exploring the development of a larger-scale and long-term vision for the wider Cissbury area, to develop a thriving landscape that benefits nature, the climate, people's health and wellbeing, and the local economy.
Over the coming months we'll be identifying opportunities for further nature-based projects to create a connected, biodiversity-rich landscape that allows wildlife to move freely through the area and thrive.
As a council for the community, we are committed to protecting and maintaining the town's much-loved green spaces for the benefit of current and future generations. We believe that Sussex Wildlife Trust would be an ideal custodian of Tenants Hill, which forms part of this larger vision with multiple partners to achieve these aims.
What's happening next?
We are hosting a public engagement event at Findon Valley Free Church on Monday 15th September from 6:30pm to 8pm so residents can find out more about the proposals and ask any questions they may have.
Representatives of Sussex Wildlife Trust, will also be in attendance as key partners in delivering the next part of the vision for this much-treasured natural landscape.
Members of the public can now reserve their space for the engagement event, which has a maximum capacity of 80 people. Tickets can be reserved on a first come, first served basis:
Following the engagement event, we will take everyone's feedback onboard and update the Frequently Asked Questions section below with any points raised by attendees.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Sussex Wildlife Trust and what does it do?
Sussex Wildlife Trust is a non-profit organisation that works across the county to enable nature to thrive. They manage nature reserves, conduct research, engage in environmental education, and advocate for policies that support wildlife and wild places.
Q: Why is the council open to selling this piece of land?
We are open to selling Tenants Hill to Sussex Wildlife Trust as it's a trusted local partner that works across the county to help nature and wildlife to thrive, which are missions that we fully support.
The trust is also a key partner in our exciting, multi-stakeholder long-term vision for the wider Cissbury area, which aims to develop a thriving landscape that benefits nature, the climate, people's health and wellbeing, and the local economy.
The capital return from selling Tenants Hill would also fund the renaturing of Cissbury Fields, which is a large council-owned chalk grassland site to the east of Cissbury Ring. We have ambitions to transform the site into a haven for nature and visitors alike.
Q: Why does Sussex Wildlife Trust want to own this land?
Sussex Wildlife Trust is interested in buying Tenants Hill to increase the biodiversity of the site and embark on a long-term plan to restore it as high-quality chalk grassland, which is an internationally important habitat.
One of the ways the trust would achieve this is by grazing its conservation herd on the site. This would benefit a wide range of birds like Skylarks, insects such as the Adonis blue butterfly and plants including the round-headed rampion, also called the Pride of Sussex.
Q: Would the site still be publicly accessible?
Yes, there would be no changes to public access, should a deal be agreed. We know how important access to the wider Cissbury landscape is for our residents and visitors to the area, and Sussex Wildlife Trust has no intention of changing this with its proposal.
The land is also dedicated for public access under Section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which further certifies Tenants Hill as a landscape that can be enjoyed by residents and nature for generations to come.
Should its proposal be accepted, Sussex Wildlife Trust also expects to offer volunteering opportunities at Tenants Hill for local people who want to get closer to nature and assist with the conservation of the land.
Q: Does Sussex Wildlife Trust's proposal unlock the site's potential for nature?
As part of the exciting long-term vision we share with our partners for the wider Cissbury landscape, Sussex Wildlife Trust hopes to restore Tenants Hill to a flower-rich chalk grassland that benefits biodiversity and compliments Cissbury Ring, which is an important corridor for nature.
Q: Why hasn't the council put the land onto the open market to get the highest price?
We are working with a variety of nature partners to renature the wider Cissbury area. Previously, members of the community have protested against any potential sale of this land and made it clear they wanted it protected for wildlife. But by selling the land to Sussex Wildlife Trust, we can ensure it is protected for nature conservation for future generations.
Q: What will happen to the current tenant of the land?
We are working with the current tenant to help explore other sites they could use in the area, which would be required should a potential sale go ahead with Sussex Wildlife Trust.
Q: Could this land be used for building homes or any other type of commercial units now or in the future?
Sussex Wildlife Trust would like to purchase Tenants Hill to restore its flower-rich chalk grassland for the benefit of nature, and therefore has no intention of building any homes or large units on the landscape, which is an internationally important habitat.
Although very unlikely, any potential plans to build on the landscape in the future would still require full planning approval and public consultation.
Q: Is this a sale or a free transfer?
It would be a sale, not a free transfer - Sussex Wildlife Trust would purchase the land from Worthing Borough Council. We are still reviewing the trust's offer, but if a decision is made to sell the land we will make the amount paid public.
Page last updated: 02 September 2025