£50,000 price tag to preserve historic 1066 battlefield

Last week EH confirmed it would not hold any major events on the battlefield in the coming year after the extremely wet weather took its toll on the site in 2012.

The Battle of Hastings re-enactment traditionally takes place over two days in October, but last year EH was forced to cancel the second day after the field was left looking like a mud bath.

Battle’s bonfire celebrations were forced to re-locate to another venue.

Speaking at a Battle Town Council meeting, Cllr Jeremy Eldridge questioned EH’s decision.

He said: “Are they not being a bit precious about it? It’s a field.”

Town clerk Peter Mills explained: “They are under pressure from a group called the Battlefield Trust.”

While the field is being re-seeded and rested, visitors will be restricted to where they can walk on the site.

A number of alternative events have been planned to take place throughout the year, including a theatrical re-telling of events leading up to the Norman invasion, children’s events, a bat watching expedition and a visit from an astronomer.