The civil parish covers an area of 784 hectares (1,940 acres) In the 2001 census 271 people lived in 100 households, of whom 139 were economically active.

The hamlet of Hickstead lies at the eastern end of the parish, on the A23 road, 2.7 mi (4.3 km) west of Burgess Hill.

Probably early medieval, maybe some earlier still, these were the wide ways whereby the cultivators of the rich lands of the coastal plain, the Downs, and the under-down spring line, brought their swine for the autumn pannage (nut harvest) in the Wealden woods, and their cattle for the lush bite of the meadowlands.

Around Twineham is a level, open countryside of meandering lush streams and large fields, a bit like the best of old Norfolk in the well-timbered Weald.

Along the streams, the sounds of yellowhammers and reed warblers in spring do their best to compete with the low roar of the London Road.

Inside, some of the aisle slabs are of fossil winklestone, from a Sussex marble band that outcrops roughly along, but just south of, Gratten Lane.

Slipe is a Grade II* listed building and a former farmhouse, originally a 15th-century timber-framed open hall with a solar wing, modified in the 16th century and restored in the 1920s and late 1940s.

The National Heritage List for England describes it as 'an elegant and well-proportioned example of a Celtic cross memorial displaying good quality materials and fine craftsmanship'.

The river then continues to the west of Henfield, where it meets the western Adur to reach the sea at Shoreham-by-Sea.

At Bob's Lane (TQ 246 205) a pairs of barn owls forage the fields, hedgelines and wood edges.

The Herrings Stream has relatively good bankside access from Hickstead east to the A273, Eylesford Bridge.

[20] Twineham civil parish is in the Hurstpierpoint and Bolney electoral division of the non-metropolitan county of West Sussex.

[26][27] St Peter's Church is early Tudor, built with mellow red brick and a Horsham stone roof.

[citation needed] Douglas Bunn (1928 – 2009), showjumping entrepreneur and businessman, lived in the parish, near Hickstead.

He was godfather to model Jodie Kidd, who married entrepreneur Aidan Butler at St Peter's Church, Twineham on 10 September 2005.