Annual bluebell walk raises over £100k for charity

More than 21,000 visitors have helped an annual charity walk in East Sussex raise over £100,000.

The 1,100m (0.68 mile) Arlington Bluebell Walk & Farm Trails at Bates Green Farm, Polegate, allows visitors to see white anemones and bluebells that have been established over centuries.

Owner John McCutchan called it "an exceptional year" with £109,054 raised for 26 local charities.

"A big thank you to everyone who has made it such a marvellous, successful and enjoyable year," he said.

The walk, which was open from 3 April to 10 May, has been running since 1972, with the total amount raised coming to £1,278,419.

"The waiting list of other charities wanting to participate grows year on year," McCutchan said.

"It's always a balancing act to choose which participating charities have sufficient volunteers, to ensure our visitors, in whatever numbers, have a good experience when they visit."

It was his late wife, Carolyn, who came up with the original idea to host the event, and she is now honoured by a weathervane at Arlington Village Hall depicting her pushing a wheelbarrow through the bluebells.

McCutchan said planning for 2027 with a list of improvements was already under way, adding they cannot anticipate "when the bluebells will look their best, as each year it gets earlier".

He said: "To choose the dates for next year is just a gamble!"

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.