Stuck for ideas for a fun day out in Sussex?
Don’t want to break the bank?
How about a non-profit-making attraction where you can have fun, spend a little and support a good cause?
Here are our favourite places in Sussex for charitable days out, where the entry price is either by donation or a small fee to cover their costs.
Raystede Animal Welfare Centre, Ringmer, East Sussex
A firm family favourite for many years, Raystede’s ethos is that every animal deserves a happy home.
They rescue, re-home and provide sanctuary to more than 2,000 animals each year.
What to see: A lovely stroll around pens and fields where they care for almost every kind of animal imaginable, from horses and donkeys to tiny mice and hamsters.
There’s an area for goats, chickens, turkeys and, Pork Belly’s favourite, geese. At weekends and holidays they have special behind-the-scenes events on animal care and, of course, adoption days.
Cost: Tours are free but booking is essential
Opening Times: Every day from 10 til 4. Check their website for events
They have a great café, with a good range of vegan options, and a well-stocked charity shop.
NGS gardens
Throughout spring, summer, early autumn and a few special days in winter, you can find a garden open near you for the National Garden Scheme, supporting a wide range of charities.
What to see: Every garden is different, from majestic, sweeping estates to tiny town house gardens.
Cost: Varies but typically around £10 per person, with children usually free
Opening Times: Vary, so check the Find a Garden search box on their website
Some gardens offer reasonably priced refreshments, and many have plant sales
RNLI Lifeboat Station, Shoreham-by-Sea
Take a look inside a fully functioning Lifeboat Station and see their state-of-the-art boats. You’ll be shown around by a volunteer who’ll be able to answer all your questions.
There’s been a lifeboat in Shoreham since 1865 and, like most stations, the lifeboats at Shoreham are run by a crew of volunteers from all walks of life.
What to see: It’s one of the largest RNLI lifeboat stations in the country, covering three floors, and is home to the Tamar lifeboat.
Cost: Free, but they would appreciate a donation, and they do have a shop for extra purchases.
Opening Times: From 10am–2pm weekdays, 10 am-4pm Weekends. More details on their website
Aldingbourne Country Centre, near Chichester
It all began in 1978 in the grounds of Aldingbourne House with ambitious plans to create a centre for adults with learning disabilities that offered real purpose.
The Aldingbourne Trust is dedicated to helping local businesses, communities and people with learning disabilities to work together to benefit everyone.
What to see: Kids love to get up close to the animals, and they have a daily schedule of activities in the open farm.
Maybe take a woodland walk or have fun on the ride-on tractors or castle playground, plus home-cooked food is served in their award-winning café. During each school holiday, they hold special day events.
Cost: A family of four will cost £32, but under 2s and carers go free. There may be additional charges for activities like bird feeding, cuddling a guinea pig, feeding alpacas and even a special gift experience of a pig mud bath (pre-book only).
If bad weather spoils your day, they have a return-for-free in the next 7 days option.
Opening Times: All year round, but times vary. Check their website for full details
Wildfowl and Wetlands, Arundel
Another long-time family fave, especially water vole spotting from their flat-bottomed boats.
There are nine wildfowl and wetland nature reserves across the country, all managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and the one at Arundel is a 65 acre haven for wildlife.
What to see: Pretty much every kind of wildfowl imaginable, a reed bed, playground and pond-dipping in season.
Take a Wetlands Discovery Boat Safari, wander the boardwalk, play in the Pond Skaters and Tree Creepers playgrounds or just feed the geese.
Cost: A family of two adults and two children will set you back £37.72, but under 4s and carers are free and family membership is good value if you plan to go regularly. A café with great views over one of the lakes is a bad weather attraction, plus you can always hide out in a hide!.
Opening Times: Every day except Christmas Day, with times varying with the seasons. See their website for more
Sussex Wildlife Trust, various locations East and West Sussex
Plenty of outdoor fun to be had at nature reserves, from beaches and ponds to woods and wide open commons. We particularly enjoy Burton and Chingford Ponds in West Sussex for a tranquil stroll in any season.
What to see: Pretty much everything the British countryside can offer in the way of nature and wildlife.
Cost: Mostly free, but donations welcome, and annual membership gets you access to guided walks and talks at many of their reserves. A family pass costs £57.
Opening Times: Vary with the seasons, although open areas like Ditchling Common and the beaches have unrestricted access. For a full list of reserves and their facilities, see their website
Where to next?
• Foxton Locks
• Shakespeare in the snow
• Green Philadelphia