Scaynes Hill Common
The Common, beside Church Road, was purchased by the Parish from the Manor of
Balneath, in 1996. It is a Site of Nature Conservation Importance and is maintained in
a natural state for the benefit of the community and the environment.
Anchor Pond and Common, Scaynes Hill
Another area owned by the Parish is the pond and surrounding area in front of the
Inn on the Green Pub at the top of Anchor Hill on the Lewes Road in Scaynes Hill.
The pond is home to a variety of wildlife, including the protected Great Crested Newt,
and would have originally been created as a dewpond, getting its water mainly from
rainfall, although it is thought that before the road up Anchor Hill was widened, there
had been a spring that also fed the pond; the road widening works are thought to
have diverted the spring. The original purpose for the pond would have been for
watering of animals, mainly those used for transport along the road, but it probably
also served as a water supply for the steam traction engines that came into use later.
In 1990 the condition of the pond had seriously degraded and it was saved from
‘destruction’ by four Scaynes Hill residents, who organised the financing and work of
reconstruction with the help of many others from within the community.
