South Downs Eco Lodge

Newly clad and brimming with sustainability, this old wartime Naval building is transformed into a very comfortable place to stay. Bedrooms, on two floors, have en suite showers, plug sockets and shelves where you want them, organic cotton sheets and good reading lights. Breakfast is a DIY affair in the garden room and if you want something heftier walk over to The Beech Café for veggie or vegan, all made from scratch – even the baked beans!

If you’re on a course – everything from woodland management to health and wellbeing – you’ll spend your days learning about sustainability and what all of us can do to stop damaging the planet. If not, you can wander 55 acres of garden, forest, restored chalk grassland and a natural burial woodland; views from the top soar to the Isle of Wight on clear days.

Walkers and cyclists, birdwatchers and botanists, writers and artists will also thrive here. The atmosphere is infectiously gentle.

This place is one of our Sawday’s Community Champions – not-for-profit organisations receiving subsidised Sawday’s membership as recognition for their support of causes and communities.