As the old law starts to fade, and the new year sets off on its journey, I always feel the urge to slow down a little, to look back at where I’ve been, what I’ve learned, and how Sussex has quietly, steadily worked its way further under my skin. The final quarter of the year felt particularly rich. October, November and December are months I associate with depth rather than speed: longer shadows, quieter paths, deeper stories. It felt like the perfect way to close out 2025.
Towns, walks and small adventures
Our towns of the month, Eastbourne in October, Littlehampton in November and Rye in December, gave us three very different lenses on Sussex life. Each came with its own atmosphere, its own rhythm, and its own surrounding landscapes to explore. I loved wandering beyond the obvious, slipping out into nearby villages, footpaths and coastlines, and letting each place reveal itself slowly.
Much of my autumn was spent walking. Friston Forest and East Dean became familiar companions, places I return to again and again, never quite the same twice. No matter how well I think I know a path, there is always something new to notice: a shift in light, a detail in the hedgerow, a new story waiting to be uncovered.
October also brought some wonderfully varied experiences. I headed out with Simon Furber from BBC Sussex in search of ghosts (equal parts history and imagination), travelled to Heathfield to make cheese, and took real pleasure in more domestic rituals: making sloe gin, chutney and jam from fruit gathered in my garden and nearby lanes. Those small, seasonal acts felt grounding in a busy year.
Marking history and celebrating light
October also saw me at Battle for the 1066 Battle of Hastings re-enactment, an event that feels especially significant as we begin a year of marking the 960th anniversary. Standing there, watching history brought vividly to life, I felt that familiar Sussex sensation: the past never feels far away here.
November was full of moments of joy, cheering on the Old Crocks in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (a ritual I never tire of) and being completely blown away by the Chichester Cathedral light display, which was genuinely epic.
And then, almost without noticing, we were into Christmas. We went to every single National Trust Christmas display across the county, along with the light shows at Leonardslee and Wakehurst. It was exhausting and wonderful in equal measure — the kind of tiredness that comes from saying yes to too many beautiful things.
Community, curiosity and what resonated
We also re-ran our National Tree posts, which were as popular as ever and confirmed something I strongly believe: the people of Sussex really do love their trees and we are extraordinarily lucky with the ones we have. Our Where Am I Wednesday feature on Instagram continued to delight me. The collective knowledge, enthusiasm and good humour of our community never fails to impress, you really know your Sussex!
On social media, our top-performing post of 2025 was our walk on Thorney Island, with over 100,000 views. Close behind were the trees planted in the shape of a V near Plumpton, the Battle of Hastings re-enactment, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and the Spanish Galleon that docked in Shoreham. It’s always fascinating to see what captures attention and reassuring that curiosity, place and story still matter.
Behind the scenes, the numbers quietly tell their own story. The magazine was viewed a staggering 14 million plus times in 2025, averaging 3.6 million per edition, and the website continued to grow at a time when many others are losing traction. I’m enormously grateful for that support and engagement.
What I learned
More than anything, my love and respect for Sussex, as both a place and a community, deepened this year. I’ve been doing this for five years now and I’ve learned a great deal, but my biggest lesson is a humbling one: I still have so much to learn. There isn’t a single walk, visit or experience that doesn’t teach me something new. That sense of continual discovery is what keeps Sussex Exclusive honest and alive.
I’m deeply proud that our content follows its own path. We are not trend-led or influencer-driven. Our photographs are ours, boots on the ground, moments noticed, details caught because we were there. I love joining the dots and giving things context, especially when that context isn’t immediately obvious. That, for me, is where the magic lives.
Looking ahead to 2026
As I look forward to 2026, I feel genuinely excited. We’re launching new business and health pages, under the stewardship of the brilliant Dee Blick, allowing us to take an even deeper dive into Sussex life. We’re also planning a celebratory event to mark five years of Sussex Exclusive, which feels both surreal and rather special.
Our 2026 theme — History, Heritage and Folklore — feels like coming home. The 1066 trail running throughout the year is something I can’t wait to explore in full. I’m already looking forward to attending all the major bonfire celebrations, medieval re-enactments, my first Pirate Day and Jack in the Green. There is so much planned, and so much still to discover.
If 2025 taught me anything, it’s that Sussex always has another story waiting and I’m very glad to be here to tell it.
A small ask
If you enjoy walking Sussex with me, please do follow Sussex Exclusive on Facebook or Instagram and continue the journey there. Here’s to another year of curiosity, context and quietly extraordinary places.
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