ON THE VERGE

Connecting people and green spaces

Marching into Spring – (Seaford Scene March 2022)

 

As I write, a few of us have been out and about looking for evidence of emerging wild flowers. The mild weather has encouraged the foliage to appear very earl. By the time you read this, many more should be in full bloom!

Many thanks to our new “Renaturing Champions”. These volunteers have been out checking their local green spaces and blossoming nature corridors.

My highlight was the discovery of Blatchington Trees – a lovely spot of woodland alive with blackbirds, squirrels, great tits, blue tits and a wren, near Seaford primary school. In the undergrowth insects were buzzing round the Winter Heliotrope and the woodland floor was a carpet of green.

Pollinator on Winter Heliotrope in Blatchington trees

 

“Chyngton lane South” has a patch of Sweet Violets and Black Horehound, which will flower and feed early bumble bees shortly”. Melene.

We are currently investigating how we can work with residents in this lovely ancient lane. Local residents want to fully appreciate and monitor the existing biodiversity and potential for improvement. For example we may look at gaps in the hedgerows, watch out for invasive species, document the magnificent trees in this lane, and share our sightings. Do get in touch if you live nearby and would like to get involved.

Another of the delightful “hidden” green spaces we are monitoring, is the green between Sandore Road and Millfield Close. Melene noticed sweet violets appearing, and up to 100 starlings high in the tree tops, and another observer that some branches had been lopped off, and sawn into a pile (perhaps for wildlife?)

Sandore Road green space. Photo by Jackie

 

In mid January in the Sea meadows (Martello fields) there were lots of flowers starting to come up, and already in flower were some surprisingly big daisies, buttercups, dandelions, chickweed and groundsel. The humble dandelion (often maligned as a weed) can be a vital source of nectar for early bumble bees, such as in this vibrant verge last year in Nursery close.

Nursery Close verge last year

 

In late January, the group checking out the new growth in the field dips near College Road (known as the Covers) spotted a hoverfly, and even a fox! Thanks so much for our keen volunteers in these spaces, who have also been helping to pick up litter and address any other issues.

We are particularly looking for “renaturing champions” to monitor the plants and wildlife of the meadow areas of the Salts, and the verges in nearby Edinburgh Road. Please do get in touch if you are interested in helping, enthusiasm is more important than experience!

Spring is nearly here (astronomical Spring is on 20 March) and if you need a bit of encouragement to get planting (or are keen to help others do so) do come along to the SEA hub 10am-1pm on Saturday 19th March for the “Get Ready for Gardening” workshop, where we can share, recycle and repurpose tools, materials seeds and plants, to help Seaford nature filled gardens spring into life!

Thanks as always to Seaford Scene. You can read the whole magazine here



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