The Level

History

Find out about The Level's history.

Accessibility

The Level prides itself on being an accessible park for all, with features including:

• flat and step-free access, surfacing and pathways to park entrances, café and playground
• controlled crossings on roads to east and west
• 2 disabled car parking bays on Ditchling Road (eastern) side
• disabled toilets in new café
• good lighting throughout
• benches, most with armrests and adjacent hard-standing areas
• picnic tables around pétanque and boccia area, designed to enable wheelchair users to get right up to the table; tabletops with textured chessboards
• inclusive and accessible playground (PiPa-accredited), also includes a sensory garden featuring sound-creating and stimulating equipment
• welcome archway at southern entrance with tactile punched wildlife and heritage images picked out in perforations (see also “Art at The Level”)
• planting chosen for colour, texture, fragrance and natural sound qualities
• a podcast about the park's history and heritage
• noticeboards with contact information for reporting concerns or issues

Conservation and sustainability

The park observes high sustainability and environmental standards, with a particular focus on encouraging pollinators.

There is a bee bed and a butterfly garden, as well as many other plants that have been specially selected for their attractiveness to these insects.

Elm trees and butterflies

The Level has a large and nationally important elm tree collection which supports a colony of White-letter Hairstreak butterflies. This endangered species lives mainly in the treetops, and the butterfly's lifecycle is entirely dependent on elms for food.

Read more about The National Elm Collection.

Art at The Level

There is community-inspired artwork in the central part of the north lawns and on the chessboard tabletops of the picnic tables around the circular boccia and pétanque gravelled area.

The artwork is textured so those with visual impairment can appreciate it.

An eye-catching, polished steel archway, at the southern entrance, has images of the park's history and wildlife picked out through the innovative use of perforations. Watch a video about the steel arch sculptures on YouTube.

Water fountains

This water feature is open from the first day of the May Day bank holiday weekend until the Sunday closest to 15 September.

Operating hours:

• 10am to 1pm
• 2pm to 6pm

If you have any questions, phone 01273 685 692.

Volunteering

The park has a community group called the Level Communities Forum (LCF).  Find out more at the Forum's website, or send an email to thelevelcommunitiesforum@gmail.com.

To find out more, you can:

• find out more about city parks and green space volunteering
• search for volunteering opportunities on the Community Works website
• visit the Brighton & Hove Green Spaces Forum