East Sussex is a county in southeast England. Due to its position on the coastline of the English Channel, it has been subject to many invasions, notably from the Romans and later the Saxons. It was established as a historic county by the Normans, as the site of the famous Battle of Hastings.
The county encompasses a range of hills, ridges, and valleys. The geology has three main sub-regions: to the south-west of the county lies the most fertile land, the densely-populated coastal plain, which is itself a National Character Area. North of this lie the rolling chalk hills of the South Downs, one of the four main areas of chalk downland in southern England, containing thirty-seven Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Only 3-4% of chalk grassland now survives here following agriculture, where previously the region saw 40-50%. Beyond this area lies the Sussex Weald, containing 23% woodland and encompassing areas of sand, clay, and the Greensand Ridge, which has acidic soil suited to heather.
As one of the sunniest regions in the UK, the county has a mild maritime climate, with average temperatures of 14°C. The area sees highs of 20°C in July and lows of 7°C in January. May through September offer the best period for propagation for gardens in East Sussex.
