It is known for its greenery and woodland and is very close to the South Downs, from which it is separated by the Brighton Bypass, and was built on the slopes of two hills.

[2] In 1938, local building firm Braybon Ltd signed a contract with Brighton Corporation to develop 168 acres (68 ha) of land nearby as an extension of the Withdean estate, with low-density housing of various types.

[9] Since the Golf Course has been closed and rewilding has started summer downland flowers are already returning and harebell, scabious, cowslip, rockrose, betony, Sussex rampion and horseshoe vetch have all been seen in the area.

By the bridlepath just downhill of the old clubhouse there are the damaged remains of a Bronze Age round barrow (TQ 283 087) which has long acted as a marker on the old parish boundaries and at the corner of the Saddlescombe Road and the turn-off to the golf clubhouse there is a sarsen stone (TQ 278 090) marking this point in the medieval boundary between Patcham and West Blatchington parishes.

The Hill has a flowery bank on its western slope (TQ 286 091), a bushy lynchet and an old dewpond site on its brow.

Pangdean Bottom is the west of the A23 and is rented by a tenant farmer from Brighton and Hove City Council, who have owned it since 1924.

It includes ancient chalk grassland slopes where there are still chalkland flowers and butterflies and many believe it should have been designated Access land status.

[10] In July 2021 the Sussex-based 'Landscapes of Freedom' group, together with Nick Hayes and Guy Shrubsole of the 'Right to Roam' network, organised a mass trespass in protest against the lack of public access to this valley and its management for game bird shooting, which has badly affected its chalk grassland wildlife.

[12] The public are actively discouraged from walking in the area and scrub has been allowed to grow on the pristine downland, whilst other parts have been ploughed out.