Nature and tradition celebrated on Sussex Day

Worthing town crier Bob Smitherman helped Radio Sussex presenter Alison Ferns kick off the station's Sussex Day coverage

Sussex Day is being marked in communities across East and West Sussex, with the counties' natural landscape being celebrated in 2025.

June 16 is the feast day of Sussex's patron saint Richard, a 13th century Bishop of Chichester whose shrine at the city's cathedral used to attract nearly as many pilgrims as Thomas Becket's in Canterbury.

Sussex Day was founded by Ian Steedman from Brighton in 2006 with the aim of showcasing and celebrating the area's rich heritage and culture.

House of Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle arranged for the flag of Sussex to be flown at the Houses of Parliament.

The Sussex flag was flown at the Houses of Parliament

To fit with the theme of the celebrations, Brighton-based charity Forest Without Frontiers (FWF) is running a campaign offering "a unique Sussex experience to help restore nature".

Funds will go to the Sussex Wildlife Trust to restore woodlands on the edge of Ebernoe Common and Wilderlands.

There will be a nature connection day at Wilderlands, near Fletching, with experts and enthusiasts on hand to talk about the Weald's woodland history.

FWF's crowdfunding campaign features rewards such as a workshop with legendary songwriter Guy Chambers and walking on the Downs with Sunday Times correspondent Peter Owen Jones.

Philip Jackson's bronze statue of St Richard was put up outside Chichester Cathedral in 2000

Morris dancers from across Sussex gathered in Lewes at the weekend for their annual Sussex Day meeting, always held on the Saturday closest to 16 June.

Organiser Dave Johns, from the Long Man Morris group in Eastbourne, said: "We had 12 sides dancing around Lewes in different styles, border style, Cotswold style, garland style, clogging.

"We fill the centre of the town with dancers and music."

Cliff Marchant and Dave Johns from the Long Man Morris group took part in a celebration in Lewes

Other events include a community event at the Sidings in Newhaven on 21 June from 13:00 to 16:30 BST.

Mayor of Newhaven Kim Bishop told BBC Radio Sussex: "We've got Haven Harmonies Choir, local singers Rick Sharp and Charlotte Oatway, there's a circus skills workshop and the toad's game, the Sussex pub game."

The day was also celebrated with an event on Chapel Green in Crowborough on Monday.

Mayor Natalie Whittle said: "We're raising the flag this morning, then we've got a wonderful programme of events.

"We've got a town crier, trumpeters playing a fanfare, stallholders, entertainment and a beer tent.

"And a big shout out to the scouts, who are going to provide a barbecue."