The presentation begins with a general appreciation of West Sussex, analysing the effect that physical geography has on such things as modern settlement, planning, housing and architectural styles, communications, farming, flooding and other environmental issues. I try to relate these general points to the area where I am speaking, using local examples and photographs wherever possible. The talk concludes with a detailed look at some really local issues; perhaps why a particular stream in your village always floods or why the local roads deviate in a curious way; and of course, ‘Why Church Lane is (or in some cases is not) so steep?’