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The Sunset Tree

96%
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· Sussex, West Sussex, England
3 acres hosted by Add S.
2 glamping pitches · 28 tent pitches
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Add is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
A sociable, tents-only, pop-up campsite, with a good village pub and playground on the doorstep

The willow tree is said to be a symbol of new life and adaptability. It’s certainly resilient. A broken branch planted in the ground forms a new tree; cut it down and it grows back. There’s a particularly striking specimen willow on a farm in a place called Staplefield. Its unusual form is such that two limbs grow parallel to the floor at a perfect height for sitting on. Come sunset and a small group of people often gather on these natural pews to marvel at the colours in the sky. This is, in fact, The Sunset Tree; the namesake and symbol of a new campsite that’s taking root in Sussex.

Set up as a sociable and safe place for people to holiday and regain a sense of community after the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, it’s rather appropriate that it’s a willow that campers are drawn to on this site. But, even so, it’s not the heart of the place. That honour is reserved for the communal campfire where campers are welcome to share stories, play instruments and perhaps even have a sing-a-long. It’s the vision of campsite owner, Adam, whose background in festivals and the arts is evident in this relaxed and rustic site which pops up for a few weeks in summer.

There are 18 informal and unmarked grassy pitches and two pre-pitched bell tents available to hire. You can choose to camp in a quiet area at the top of the site or down in the main camping space which is closer to the communal campfire and edged by a little wood. By day, the woodland is all that’s needed by way of a playground, by night it’s lit with fairy lights. The sociable side of the campsite is, in some ways, its defining factor but there’s no pressure to join in. There’s enough space in the two-and-a-half acres for people who are just here to enjoy the rural Sussex setting too.

The village centre of Staplefield is just 100 metres from the farm entrance and has two pubs, a cricket ground and a small kids’ play area. Gardens, grand houses and pretty Sussex villages are plentiful round here with Nymans National Trust gardens, the closest, less than two miles from site. The Ashdown Forest and the South Downs National Park are a short drive away and bustling Brighton, and it’s beaches, are easy to get to thanks to the site’s proximity to the A23. The road is worth a mention here as you should expect some noise from traffic, though it’s often well-muffled by trees. However you spend your days, if it seems quiet when you return to site, just look towards the willow. If it’s sunset, we can almost guarantee you’ll see the silhouette of campers enjoying the warm embrace of The Sunset Tree. Maybe you should join them.

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96%
27 Ratings · 19 reviews
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Karl ?.recommends
August 28, 2023
2 - Quiet Grass Pitch (large)
Super atmosphere, great site!
Really welcoming communal site, we only stayed the single night but had a truly great time! There is a small playground for the kids and a campfire area which was very cosy! We will certainly be coming back next year!
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Elizabeth P.recommends
August 21, 2023
20 - Ash Bell
Glamping with friends
Great camp site with great facilities, Add showed us around and we really had a great time. The tent next to us told us off at one minute past midnight for being loud but that's fair enough and we were immediately quiet. Breakfast was a great addition too. the single beds were very comfy!
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Pallavi G.recommends
August 19, 2023
20 - Ash Bell
Lovely campsite. Well maintained. Will visit again.
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James C.recommends
September 6, 2022
The Sunset Bells
Lovely site
Great camp site, hopefully will return next season! Thanks,
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Lisa D.recommends
September 1, 2022
Tent Pitch
We had a great time at the laid back field at the Sunset Tree Farm. The kids play area is very very well laid out and the overall vibe very relaxed, lovely and music and arts oriented. The kind owner and lovely staff did everything to make our whole family feel very at home during our stay. Thank you for a great experience! We will definitely be back :)
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Rosa F.recommends
August 2, 2022
The Sunset Bells
Perfect sunset camping
We loved it! Felt really welcomed and looked after. Lovely friendly campers on site too. Great amenities - simple but well cared for. We had everything we needed! Perfect view of the sunset every night and we saw shooting stars too :)
Location
Sussex, West Sussex, England, United KingdomTraditional, ancestral territory of various First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Add S.Joined in May 2021
From the host
NEW FOR 2023 Hot Shower Improved Kids area with Batts/Balls/Bikes and Scooters - All Free to use around site Covered shared eating area with 4mtr banquet table and lit with Solar Lights at Night Sunrise Cafe - Serving yummy Brekkie with pastries/coffee/Bacon Rolls (GF/Veggie available) More than just a campsite or tranquil place to get away from it all, The Sunset Tree is a place for connection and community. A place where families, friends and strangers can come together under the stars to share time, stories and smiles as we reconnect to our shared humanity after this extraordinary year of isolation and remember the magic of togetherness that happens when people and nature meet.Whether you’re looking for peaceful solitude in nature, or a fun-filled family holiday, our friendly, Covid-safe site is a place to relax and play, where guests are warmly encouraged to lend their voices, music and hands to help co-create our enchanted village, or simply watch the world go by, swinging in a comfy hammock in our own secret woodland, the Dragon Woods.Throughout the season you’ll discover art installations, wellbeing workshops, kid’s activities and storytelling at our beautiful low-impact site, where sustainability and fun are at the heart of everything we do. The Sunset Tree is a family friendly campsite with creativity at its core; a place for people who want more than just a pitch. Being just a short drive from the world famous Ashdown Forest, with a playground and two pubs within walking distance and all shops and amenities just five minutes away, you’re sure to have everything you need for a convenient and comfortable stay. Set amongst the fields of Home Farm in Staplefield, West Sussex, campers can pitch up in our quiet family area, or feel at ease to make a little late night noise with friends in the main camping area, and wake up to the gentle mooing of some of the farm’s cows. Children will love exploring Dragon Wood, our mini woodland complete with rope swing, wildlife pond and picnic tables. We even have a dedicated kid’s art hut to get creative in. Just watch out for our resident dragon… As the day draws to a close, take a seat on a bench beneath our namesake, The Sunset Tree, a willow tree at the edge of the site where you can watch the sun dip beneath the horizon before heading over to The Heart, our communal campfire where campers can reconnect with old friends and make a few new ones! So bring your instruments and tall tales, or simply sit back and soak up the joy of belonging to a likeminded community, if only for a little while.
Nearby attractions

The village of Staplefield is a five-minute walk away and has two pubs on the green. From there, you can head out walks in the Sussex countryside, perhaps to nearby Handcross and Nymans, a National Trust garden (01444 405250), which is less than two miles from The Sunset Tree. There are plenty of other gardens, grand houses and estates to visit in the area, including the privately-owned Borde Hill Gardens (01444 450326) five miles away, Wakehurst (01444 894066) wild botanic garden and Sheffield Park and Garden (01825 790231), both within 15 miles of the campsite. The bright lights and beaches of Brighton are a little further but still within a half-hour drive as is the Ashdown Forest.

Food and drink

There are two pubs on the village green in Staplefield, just a five-minute walk away: The Jolly Tanners (01444 400335) and The Victory (01444 400463). Both do food. There's also The Red Lion (01444 400292) in Handcross, two miles away. For a fine dining experience try Heritage (01444 401102) just down the road in Slaugham. If you prefer to cook and eat on the campsite, the closest shop is the Spar in Handcross or, for larger supermarkets, and more choice head to Haywards Heath, five miles from site.

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