National Pet Day: celebrating wellbeing in Brighton, Hove & Shoreham

Pets: did you know?

Pets can increase opportunities to exercise, get outside, and socialise. Regular walking or playing with pets can decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It is also widely known that companionship with pets can also help manage loneliness and depression.

We asked our Care Professionals and Home Instead Brighton, Hove & Shoreham office team for photos of their furry family members, plus their favourite places for a dog walk in the local area. We wanted to share those with you and encourage you and your loved ones to get out in our local area and enjoy some Spring sunshine with (or without) a four-legged friend.

In the image above:

• Top left and bottom right: Winnie (Jackapoo) & Herbie (Terrier Cross) belonging to our Care Professional Heidi. Winnie loves to chase squirrels at ​Hove Park or Southwick Hill Recreation Ground whilst Herbie loves to walk up Southwick Hill.
• Bottom middle: Jake the Minature Schanuzer belongs to Angela, our Customer Service Manager. Their favourite place to walk is up the top of Devils Dyke National Trust – Devil’s Dyke
• Bottom left: Alfie the Yorkshire Terrier belonging to Marketing Executive, Jess. Alfie and Jess like to walk up to the Chattri, Brighton in Patcham.
• Top middle: Bernie the Bulldog belongs to Care Professional, Kelly. Bernie likes to run along the Hove Beach Huts seafront in low tide, and enjoys having his own chair at rugby tournaments.
• Top right: Liz, owner of Home Instead Brighton Hove & Shoreham and her two dogs Ditto (Collie Cross) and Sylv enjoy taking a South Downs stroll from Jack And Jill Windmills.

More suggestions for lovely dog walks in the local area:

Preston Park

Preston Park is the largest urban park in the city and is home to the ‘Preston Twins’ – considered the largest and oldest Elm trees in the world. The park offers two cafes at either end, plus public toilet facilities. It is wheelchair accessible.

Stanmer Park Nature Reserve

Situated on the outskirts of the city, the council notes that “Stanmer Park and Estate is an excellent example of the vast open countryside available in Brighton”. There are a number of cafes in Stanmer village as well as beautiful gardens to enjoy. It is wheelchair accessible with toilets for public use.

Sheepcote/Woodland Valley

Sheepcote Valley park covers approximately 60 acres just behind Brighton Marina. There are a number of different routes to choose from the car park based at the bottom of the hill. The walks offer beautiful sea views.

Seafront Beaches/ Brighton seafront

It is possible to do a seafront/cliff walk from Rottingdean all the way over to Portslade. From 1st May to 30th September, dogs may not be allowed on some beaches, however from 1st October to 30th April, dogs are permitted on all beaches.