You may know that an area of land known as ‘Sandrock Bends’ – a large triangle between The Ridge and St Helen’s Woods opposite the Conqueror’s March pub – is currently under consideration for the building of 140 houses. This should be of serious concern to everyone who cares about St Helen’s Woods, as well as being potentially disastrous for the town in many different ways. 

Many plant and animal species have been found in the green spaces of Sandrock Bends – bats, badgers, dormice, deer, as well as buzzards, woodpeckers and ancient trees. And whilst it would be a great shame if these habitats, plants and wildlife were destroyed by development, it is the wider impact on the ancient woodlands and meadows of St Helen’s Woods – a much-loved 100-acre nature reserve in the heart of Hastings – that is also a particular concern. 

It is now well known that biodiversity corridors are vital in strengthening the health and resilience of plants and animals, as well as offering food, shelter and safety for birds, bees, bats and all kinds of wildlife. Fragmented natural spaces – pockets of green space surrounded by human-made hostile environments – are significantly less ecologically healthy and diverse than those connected to the wider natural world.

A critical link – indeed the only remaining link – between St Helen’s Woods and the countryside of the High Weald, is the land at Sandrock Bends. This enables small mammals, seeds and insects to travel between St Helen’s Woods and the countryside beyond, and thus is essential for the health and vitality of animals, plants and trees in the future, particularly as we face other threats such as climate change. 

The land at Sandrock Bends also acts like a giant green sponge, absorbing surface water. If this land is developed, this water would drain into the streams and valleys of St Helen’s Woods, which already suffer under the strain of excess water from development around The Ridge. More water means greater soil erosion, more mudslides and more habitat loss. More polluted water spells even more trouble for the bluebells, rare plant species and insects that currently thrive in the ancient woodland and meadows. 

But that’s not all…there will also be an increased risk of drainage, sewage and flooding problems that will directly affect the people of Hastings. Anybody who lives downstream from The Ridge will know that a lot of surface water runs into the valleys, paths and roads in and around St Helen’s Woods. Without the Sandrock Bends ‘green sponge’, this can only get worse, and could increase the risk of flooding for the Blacklands area, the town centre and Alexandra Park. If you live downstream of St Helen’s Woods, this should be a great concern.

Lastly, as anyone who drives or walks along The Ridge will know, this area is already subject to a great deal of traffic congestion and the corner near Sandrock Bends is an accident hotspot. More traffic driving on, off and along The Ridge can only mean more trouble for car drivers and pedestrians. 

For more information visit St Helen’s Park Preservation Society at sthelenswoods.co.uk.