Urban green spaces are increasingly important and often under threat from development.
Our verges and public open spaces can provide vital green corridors, connecting up what would otherwise be islands for wildlife.
Seaford is a part of the Greenhavens Network which was set up to support community groups who are volunteering to protect green spaces and bring them to life.
Trees
Trees for Seaford, formally Seaford Tree Wardens, works with the Seaford community to plant and care for trees in Seaford. These trees are planted on verges and in public green spaces with the support of people living nearby. So far, the group has planted 1,400 trees.
You can get involved in caring for existing local trees and planting new ones by becoming a volunteer. There are practical sessions where you join other enthusiastic people and learn from more experienced members.
You might also like to help with administrative jobs; there’s a full list here:
Trees provide food and shelter for wildlife. Seaford’s streets used to be lined with Elms before many had to be felled because of Dutch Elm disease. Trees for Seaford is planting back Elms that are resistant to the disease but there are still healthy Elm trees standing. One of the species of butterfly that relies on Elm trees is the White- letter Hairstreak.
The White-letter Hairstreak is an uncommon butterfly that lives out its whole life-cycle in mature English and Wych Elm trees. Consequently it has suffered major number reductions as a result of Dutch Elm Disease. Seaford is a stronghold for this butterfly and in June 2018 the initiative in Seaford was kicked off with a well- supported walk, identifying Elms and locating the butterflies.
Seaford Natural History Society strongly supports this initiative and its aims, not only to build up a database of valuable information, but to inform Trees for Seaford of the location of diseased trees for replacement with disease-resistant varieties or other management.
You can find the maps of known mature Elm trees in Seaford, and how to contribute to this important valuable initiative by following the link:
Development on green sites in Seaford threatens biodiversity locally. Seaford Town Council’s neighbourhood plan seeks to protect the following nine Local Green Spaces:
Bishopstone Village Green
Blatchington Pond
Foster Close Open Space
Normansal Park/Chalvington Fields not in the National Park
Princess Drive Green and old Grand Avenue Bridleway
The Crouch
The Old Brickfield and Site Adjacent to 47 Surrey Road
The Ridings, Lexden Road
Land North of Alfriston Road (4 plots)
It is important that Seaford is able to house people, but developments must consider biodiversity if we are to survive. You can get involved by becoming informed of local developments and speaking out for wildlife.
Bodies such as the Sussex Wildlife Trust campaign locally to protect green spaces from development:
The Seaford Community Partnership has existed since 2004 and aims to make Seaford a better place to live, work, and relax. It is an umbrella organisation, including groups such as Trees for Seaford. SCP has been much involved in the sensitive enhancement of the seafront: planting a Tamarisk hedge at Splash Point (to screen the pumping station) and creating a beach garden adjacent to Hardwick House. It was also responsible for the Shoal Project which is a community seat at Splash Point.
The Beach Garden was designed by a professional but built and maintained by volunteers. There is a wide range of flowers and bushes, some planted and some self-seeded vegetated shingle plants.
The Beach seen from the road.
The Community Partnership is one of the eight organisations that have contributed to the National Lottery Climate Change Bid. This bid, put forward by The South Downs National Park Trust, has five main projects within Seaford.
The five projects are:
To enhance the biodiversity of Tide Mills, the Lower Ouse Estuary and Bishopstone Valley
Enhance Local Green Spaces by creating for each a “Friends of Local Green Space”
Creating a Beach Garden as well creating a circular health walk at the Splash Point end of the seafront
Help Trees for Seaford green the streets of Seaford by planting more trees, creating green corridors and wild flower verges
Improve cycle and pedestrian connectivity, to the National Park hinterland
All these projects are in various stages of developments: identifying volunteers to participate in each project; scoping the work to be covered; and initiating further development work.
The current “development bid” totals £150,000 and includes the cost of two part-time posts to work up the detail of a further substantial bid (probably exceeding £1 million)
The Lottery’s decision on the bid is expected shortly. We are optimistic that the bid will be successful.
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