The Adur & Worthing Wildflower Trail

Shoreham Port Conservation Corridor

Posted on 10 December 2024 by Sue Standing

Despite being an organisation focused on dolphins and porpoises, we believe that all wildlife is interconnected and important.

It can be hard to get people involved with more marine focused projects so, to make it easier for people to connect with nature, we run a side project on the Shoreham Port Conservation Corridor (SPCC).

The SPCC is a unique project site, nestled in the industrialised area of Shoreham Port, and bordered by housing, making it an isolated and important first land-fall for migratory butterfly species.

The Shoreham Port Conservation Corridor is about 1.8 hectares, but the Butterfly banks is small at roughly 5mx5m

This isolated area hosts a number of habitat types, and our goal is to enhance these to increase biodiversity in this urbanised landscape. The diversity of wildlife present is something we are particularly proud of. During a Bioblitz in July 2024, we recorded an impressive 114 species within just two hours. Typical examples of species are: Viper’s Bugloss, Oxeye Daisy, Pyramidal Orchid.

No seed mixes have been sown and we have a management plan for the whole of the SPCC, using scythes and strimming. We do not cut the butterfly bank, we only maintain it buy removing any weeds or overpopulated species.

One of our site’s standout features is the chalkland butterfly bank. This area is carefully maintained to encourage the growth of wildflowers each spring and serves as a critical habitat for local pollinators.

The Shoreham Port Conservation Corridor (SPCC), managed by our dedicated team of volunteers alongside our volunteer Head Ranger, Ben, is a vibrant site undergoing continuous management.

Our team conducts litter picks to keep the site clean, maintenance of pathways and winter scallop site clearances, removing overgrowth to expose the soil and give dormant seeds an opportunity to sprout.

We typically work on a couple of sites each year across the SPCC, continually enhancing the biodiversity of the area.

We have also just built a hibernaculum (A safe structure for reptiles and other small species to hibernate over winter) and are looking to plant native wildflowers on top.

In the Spring/Summer time we will host a Bioblitz to see how many different species we can find on site.

For further information, please contact: amber.cherrington@sussexdolphinproject.org

Address: what3words: ///remind.wiser.cups This community led project is accessible at anytime. Wheelchair access from the west side of the site but there only dirt pathways so might be tricky for wheelchair users in the wetter months. There is stair access from Albion street

Visit the The Sussex Dolphin Project website to find out more about all the projects they carry out.

Victoria Park

Posted on 26 November 2024 by Sue Standing

Victoria Park, Norfolk Street, Worthing BN11 4BD

The park is always open and there are two raised beds and the fisherman’s garden near the play park.

We aim to make the raised beds attractive and beneficial for wildlife.

There is a hard path around the park that makes it easy for people using wheelchairs and walking aids, and pushchairs.

Victoria Park Volunteers and Dog Walkers Group hold volunteer sessions on the first Saturday morning of the month. Sessions may be cancelled if the weather is unwelcoming. See the noticeboard for further information.

Working in collaboration with Worthing Council, we have ideas for a rose memorials area, community orchard and re-vamping of the fisherman’s garden but will pace ourselves depending on volunteer capacity and funds available.

Contact: victoriaparkworthing@outlook.com

Please take a look at our Facebook page:

Friends of Marine Gardens

Posted on 21 November 2024 by Sue Standing

Bus Route: 700 & 8a Open to the Public 24/7

As a formal garden, most of the areas in Marine Gardens are tended to, cut lawns and flowed beds nursed. Our goal is to provide all round colour.

We do however understand that to some, a garden should be left to nature rather than managed. Acknowledging this, we have the Wilding walk, which can be found around the North East part of the garden, where the grass is not cut and we allow nature to do its own thing.

The beds have wild flowers and with the back drop from a local artist, we have a different look and feel and we have a completely different colour scheme. It is also the site for the gardens compost heap where we produce our own compost supporting all the gardens.

We are fortunate that we also tend to a Fish pond, where currently there is so much wild life thriving.

We also work in partnership with ‘Pumpkin Childs nursery” and their art work is often visible in the gardens.

Posters and Art Work by Pumpkin Childs Nursery

Marine Gardens is disabled friendly and has its own café plus private and council toilets.

For further information please contact: fomgwor@gmail.com

Sustainable Sussex

Posted on 1 November 2024 by Sue Standing

We are creating The Fen Farm, Nature trail and Community Orchard in partnership with Sompting Estate – Spaces which will demonstrate how together, a community can create amazing spaces, great connections, the best quality value added products, healthy and tasty food experiences that so many do not experience. We care for people and planet while engaging and supporting those who may be marginalised through diverse circumstances – from mental or physical health, to age, trauma or loneliness and exclusion.

Sustainable Sussex prides itself in delivering safe and engaging practical projects which have real-world outputs, such as high-value products from Sussex Chilli Farm, where individuals feel an ownership of the projects and products. This is allowed through the natural support networks that are encouraged to form within the groups, often allowing people who would traditionally not be encouraged to take on leadership roles due to disability or other difficulties to do so.

More information on https://www.sustainablesussex.org/

Friends of Whitebeam Woods

Posted on 30 November 2023 by Sue Standing

Whitebeam Wood is the last remaining pocket of ancient woodland in the Borough of Worthing, and is an important site locally.

It is well supported by the Borough and is maintained by Friends of Whitebeam Wood, a local conservation group who carry out pond and woodland management.

The Group meet on the third Saturday of each month (excluding August) to work between 10.00 am and 1.00 pm.

We aim to maintain this ancient community woodland, working in conjunction with Worthing Borough Council.

Through this conservation work we try to develop wildlife habitats and encourage the interest and involvement of the local community.

If you think you would enjoy conservation work, in a local wood with a pond, no experience necessary, all tools provided then please contact us.

How to find Whitebeam Wood

Go to Romany Road in Durrington BN13 3DW (near Tesco). There are several entrances to the wood from the slip road Whitebeam Road. Ample parking. Meet by the pond.

Friends of Whitebeam Wood

Worthing

BN13 3DW

Sompting Brooks Nature Trail

Posted on 13 November 2023 by Sue Standing

Sompting Brooks Nature Trail is located at the south end of Loose Lane, Sompting BN15 0DQ, and is open all year round.

Access is on foot only from the south end of Loose Lane. Do not park outside the flats at the end of Loose Lane as this area is reserved for local residents. Park along Loose Lane before the junction with Sylvan Road or preferably come by foot, bicycle or via public transport (the number 7 bus stops just outside the entrance).

The path is a farm track laid in sections with gravel and is somewhat uneven. Access might be difficult for wheelchairs or buggies, particularly in the winter.

The meadow area is about 6 HA with native wetland flowers and grasses in the new stream bank meadows, native wildflower meadow mixes in the former arable meadows.

We have used Emorsgate EM4 Meadow Mixture for wetter soil areas and Emorsgate EM5 for the drier and/or more loamy areas. Both mixes contain a good range of the wild flowers and grasses once common in unimproved flower-rich lowland meadows.

Former arable meadows are managed by regular grazing/cutting outside of flowering season, and the wetland meadows are seasonally controlled by volunteers (hand pulling/cutting) of over vigorous species as needed.

The wildflower meadow and stream banks now host four species of orchid; Southern March Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid, Pyramidal and Bee Orchid.

We have regular River Ranger volunteers sessions at the EPIC project site at Sompting Brooks. These run on the 3^rd Sunday of the month and include seasonal habitat maintenance activities such as reed cutting, tree mulching & channel clearing.

For more information about volunteering, please email Alistair.whitby@oart.org.uk to join the River Ranger list.

Sustainable Scything

Posted on 28 September 2023 by Debs Nicolls

The heritage art of scything dates back hundreds of years and is still a viable and sustainable method of land management today. With the move towards using less fossil fuel it offers a carbon neutral way to manage a habitat which is better for the environment and the wildlife within it.

It is possible to cut various areas such as longer grasses, wildflower meadows, waterside vegetation, orchards and private gardens. Without the need for power tools such as strimmers or mowers. Unlike power tools, there is very little maintenance required and it should last a lifetime, so it’s a good choice in the long term to save money.

Scythes can be used to create islands of wild flowers and longer grasses in rotation, which offers havens for pollinators and other wildlife. It is possible to cut up to three times a year in a mosaic pattern in order to stop some plants becoming too dominant or to allow wildflowers to be able to come though. One can work from the middle of an area outwards in order to allow living creatures in the cutting area the chance to escape. This mimics the use of grazing to maintain scrub areas where animals cannot be used.

A huge benefit of scything is the health and wellbeing of the scythe user versus the use of power tools. It is a great way to build up fitness and used correctly will not put any strain on the body. It is a wonderful and peaceful way to be part of the habitat that you are cutting without loud machinery and PPE including headphones and masks. This makes scything an ideal way for private garden owners, volunteers and green space groups to manage their areas independently.

On Thursday 7^th September Stephan Gehrels from the Brighton Permaculture Trust came and delivered a Scythe training day to the Adur and Worthing Council Ranger team.

This was a ground-breaking day as it was the first council ranger team to take on this challenge and consider the use of scythes when possible in their work. It was a fantastic training day that I also attended as the Adur and Worthing Wildflower Trail Projects volunteer (link below)

https://www.thewildflowertrail.org/

During the day we learned how to use the scythe in various habitats as well as the method of cold forging known as ‘Peening’ in order to maintain and sharpen the scythe blade.

We came away fully able to use the tools safely. The lighter Austrian Scythes are available to buy from the BPT with the whole starter kit if keen to carry on scything. It is hoped that this sustainable training can be rolled out into the wider Community and further Scythe days can be organised via the Brighton Permaculture trust when the cutting season comes round again. (link below)

Brighton Permaculture Trust – Scything Workshop

For more information about scythe training or to express any interest in the use of Scythes, or our Wildflower Trail project, contact Debs Nicolls on the email below.

wildflowertrailprojects@gmail.com

Friends of Tarring Park

Posted on 18 September 2023 by Sue Standing

The group does meet up itself but is linked to Tarring Community Forum. The TCF meets every 2^ndTuesday of the month at 7 pm. The venue for meetings is West Worthing Baptist Church, South Street, Tarring, Worthing. Any FoTP members who are not able to attend the meetings are kept up to date with forthcoming events and become involved where they can.

The main aim of Friends of Tarring Park is to help maintain the park, notify any problems to the appropriate authority, and to make good use of the park by arranging Community events. Events include Easter Egg Hunt/Easter Bonnet Competition, Picnic in the Park and Carols in the Park. Also, a new event this year is ‘An Autumn Walk n the Park’. This involves an interesting and informative talk by an expert about the various trees in the park.

We hold monthly litter picks on every 2nd Saturday of the month from 10 am. These are advertised as being friendly and sociable. We encourage members of the local community to join in including children.

Tarring Park is situated between Church Road and South Street , Tarring. It leads onto Church House Gardens which is the home to Tarring Priory Bowls Club. As well as the lawn bowls green there are adjacent tennis courts. Within the park itself there s a children’s playground and a MUGA.

Friends of Tarring Park

Worthing

BN13 1EU

dee.richardson19@outlook.com

Eastbrook Community Gardeners

Posted on 18 September 2023 by Sue Standing

Secret gardens and wildflowers

We are a small group who came together because we are interested in improving Southwick and Fishersgate green spaces for the well-being of people and pollinators alike. Our primary focus is sowing wildflowers and planting trees.

We work on St Aubyns in Fishersgate and now have a base near Eastbrook Manor Community Centre called The Secret Garden-Fishersgate. We support Layland Court pocket park, Manor Court garden and the Friends of Southwick Square. We are waiting on Impulse leisure centre in Southwick to plant an orchard and a wildflower meadow.

For more information please contact

Secret Garden

Fishergate

West Sussex

BN41 1PN

eastbrookcommunitygardeners@gmail.com

Breathing Spaces Community Flower Farm

Posted on 21 June 2023 by Sue Standing

Breathing Spaces Community Flower Farm is located at the Maybridge Keystone Centre in Worthing. Breathing Spaces is now a Transition Town Worthing project and this is a volunteer-led community garden that provides the opportunity to connect with nature via tending a small urban flower farm There is space for growing wild flowers for the benefit of people and pollinators and this is being expanded in a strip along the back of the playing field.

Breathing Spaces started up a dedicated patch of around 4m² and have already established wildflowers in other growing areas around fruit trees and in long grass areas. Using donated wildflower plants and collected seed, they are creating a vibrant wildflower habitat. The long grass is cut down at the end of the season and cleared away in the traditional hay cut method. Examples of species include Campion ‘ragged robin’, Red Valerian, Dock, Sorrel, Cowslips, Yarrow, Tansy, Knapweed, Cornflower and Wild carrot.

The site is open during Maybridge Keystone Centre opening hours, the hours can vary so it’s best to check first before visiting. The flower farm is not wheelchair accessible at present, (although the Woodland Garden which they also tend is). The site is accessed by walking across part of the playing field. The best time to see the wildflowers is around Early Summer.

Volunteers are welcome on Thursdays between March and December, 10:30-12:30.

For more information visit Breathing Spaces.