Open Country - Sussex Visions

Matt Baker takes a fresh look at one of Britain's most visited landscape.

His first step is to join the Natural Navigator, Tristan Gooley, to learn how to travel the Sussex Downs without a map or compass, relying instead on the angle of plant growth and the tracks of animals.

The beauties of the Sussex landscape lacked a certain something in the late-18th century, according to local landowner, 'Mad' Jack Fuller, and so he embarked on Britain's greatest programme of folly building. His pyramids, observatories and towers continue to dominate the landscape. Matt joins local writer John Naish for a tour of Fuller's follies.

Matt will also be examining the literary landscape of Sussex, from the pre-war works of Edward Thomas and Virginia Woolf through to the darker visions of the landscape from sci-fi writers like John Wyndham and contemporary thriller writer, Peter Moore.

Broadcast on:

BBC Radio 4, 3:00pm Thursday 16th July 2009

Duration:

27 minutes

Available until:

12:00am Thursday 1st January 2099

Categories:

• Factual,
• Science & Nature