Take a walk away from the crowds to an open patch of grassland and listen to the chorus of skylarks singing from the skies. These shy and nationally rare birds are found in abundance here on the South Downs, and make their nests in the longer grassland.
This is the time to really see chalk grassland at its best - a living carpet of colourful flowers and flying insects. The valley now turns pink with common spotted orchids. In the meadow, near the car park, get on your hands and knees to find burnet moth caterpillars making their cocoons. Burnet moths are out in force and in good years nearly every flower will have this beautiful moth visiting it. Go into the valley to see what truly ancient chalk grassland looks like.
50 things to do before you're 11¾