Champions
We have a rapidly growing list of "Champions" who feel the survival of the Cuckmere Haven West Cliffs and beach is essential and they cover a wide range of backgrounds, interests and professions.
Here are just a small selection of those champions:
Andrew Dandrige
Local Artist
Cuckmere Haven with the Coastguard Cottages is one of the most famous views in Britain. In fact it goes further than that. I learnt recently that the classic view is the No 1 screen saver in Japan! It is known the world over and has been used in numerous films and TV programs. Why is that?
Well from an artist's perspective it is the perfect composition. Everything is in the right place from many view points. There is nature with elements of man and their is beauty of form along with a natural path through the composition. What more could you ask for? From my point of view it is the most requested subject that I paint.
The cottages are an essential part of the composition because not only do they set man in the landscape but even the roof shapes and chimneys are a reflection of the cliffs beyond. It could almost be deliberate. I think if one tried to plan the composition one could not do it any better. But I'm pretty sure none of this even entered the heads of the original builders.
To lose such an important and iconic landmark by neglect, I believe, would be an unforgivable act of vandalism and I don't believe that is too strong a word for it. We live in an age when the authorities seem to count the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Frankly that is just not good enough. If we were to lose this view the country would be the poorer in spirit not to mention the loss to tourism.
Tim Charlesworth
Art Instructor
I have been going down to Cuckmere Haven since I was a young boy and, luckily, living locally I walk my dog through the Nature Reserve past the Coastguard Cottages to the beach several days a week and continue to experience the natural beauty of this awesome landscape.
“This is one of those rare places where the adjective ‘iconic’ is justified.”
Peter Hibbs
Military Historian and Archaeologist
Walking over a battlefield is essential to studying it, and here we already have one good reason for preserving Cuckmere Haven - you can't fully appreciate a battlefield if it's been destroyed or substantially altered.
Cuckmere's landscape today would be recognisable to anyone stationed there in 1940 and its current condition allows us to understand and interpret it.
“86 million years old and the White Cliffs of Sussex are on our doorstep! With their stunning views they become even more wonderful with familiarity.”
“It is vital that we fully appreciate and record our legacy of the Cuckmere Valley acres and preserve its arteries and the landscape at Cuckmere Haven.”
“I love this place. It’s really very special. An old master painted by nature. But it’s the cottages that make it unique. Taking them away would be like taking the smile off the Mona Lisa.”