Britain is the most nature-depleted country in Europe and our natural environment in Hastings faces many threats, ranging from sewage and plastic in rivers and the sea, to habitats affected by climate change and green spaces at risk from developers. Rising to these challenges are a host of community groups, a selection of whom are profiled here. Their work includes cleaning up beaches, looking after major nature reserves or well-loved smaller green areas, growing and planting for biodiversity, recording species and protecting those on the conservation red list, defending ancient woodland from being built upon, and bringing people closer to nature through walks and conservation activities. If you’d like to help any of these groups with their vital projects, please get in touch.

An event held in Hastings in March called Standing Up For Nature attracted 80 people, demonstrating widespread public concern. Attendees heard a comprehensive presentation by David EP Dennis on how to protect and restore the wildlife and landscape assets of Hastings, and inspiring speeches by campaigners from Save Horntye Sports Fields and Save Sandrock Bends. The meeting highlighted the need for community groups and individuals to come together to support nature and each other.

As a result, the Facebook group Standing Up For Nature Hastings and Rother has been set up, where everyone can share information and events. Plans are being made for future activities such as a workshop for green space campaigners and a Standing Up For Nature Fair with stalls and speakers. 

To get involved, join the Standing Up For Nature Hastings and Rother Facebook group  or contact UNITE4nature@proton.me.

FRIENDS OF HASTINGS COUNTRY PARK NATURE RESERVE

ANDREW  COLQUHOUN

Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve is a unique 345ha area of maritime cliff with a cliff-top area of maritime acid grassland and heath, gill woodland (including some ancient woodland), scrub, neutral grassland and amenity grassland. The cliffs at Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve constitute the largest area of the High Weald ridge that meets the sea. This sandstone and clay coastline is uniquely positioned between the alluvial plains of Rye Bay and Pevensey Bay and the chalk of the North and South Downs.

The site is significant both nationally and internationally for its biodiversity and geology, and has therefore been granted both Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) status.

The 270 Friends of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve pay a small subscription to help us protect, promote and enhance the natural environment of the Reserve, and to encourage others to join us in this work so that the value of the Reserve and its wildlife and flora are protected for future generations.

We always welcome new members who can join  via our website: fhcpnr.org  or by sending in one of the membership leaflets available in the Bale House.

CHURCH WOOD COMMUNITY ORCHARD

MARY  DAWSON

Church Wood Community Orchard is in the beautiful Church Wood Local Nature Reserve in Hollington. Twelve apple trees were planted in 2021. The orchard is run by a volunteer group who are looking after the trees, developing a local species wildflower meadow and creating a space for wildlife. Events are held during the year. Members also support other ‘green’ groups and the local school. The aim is to create a space for fruit to share (eventually), encourage others to enjoy the Nature Reserve and to educate and have fun in our community. We have a 25-year lease from Hastings Borough Council. We are planning an event on 7th July, Midsummer Meadow Day at the orchard,  a visit to Marline meadow, and a craft and music event in the autumn.

We welcome volunteers and visitors. Contact churchwood.co@mail.com; Mary:rainbowsmary@gmail.com; Facebook and Instagram.

SAVE OLD ROAR GILL

 VALERIE MYERS

We want to promote the restoration of Old Roar Gill as a nature reserve and much-loved tourist attraction. It’s a uniquely beautiful and precious place, and we’re making use of expert knowledge and advice to learn more about it. We want it to be a safe and nurturing environment for wildlife as well as a safe and relaxing environment for people to enjoy. We aim  to work together with residents and Hastings Borough Council to do this and  have submitted plans to HBC for consideration. We’ve continued to campaign for clean water in the Gill, where the water has been tainted by sewage leaks and other pollution for too long, but protecting the whole of the Gill is most important to us. Old Roar Gill’s geology is fascinating, and it is home to a huge variety of different plants, mosses and liverworts, fungi, insects and invertebrates, some of which are very rare. We’ve hosted visits from botanists and experts in mosses and liverworts who have made new records of what’s growing there, adding to our understanding of this unique environment.

You can view our page and join our Facebook group here: facebook.com/groups/810562710561904/

ALEXANDRA PARK GREENHOUSE

LINDA PEARSON

Alexandra Park Greenhouse Group CN 1177523 was established in 2018. The mission of the trustees was to restore the only surviving greenhouse in Alexandra Park depot. The historic 34m 1934 teak and cast iron greenhouse played a vital role in growing bedding plants for Hastings seafront displays in the 1930s. It became the Floral Hall in the 1970s, where the community enjoyed viewing the exotic flowers and foliage housed in a tropical atmosphere. Sadly, it fell into dereliction in the 1980s and was left to rewild and crumble. Now the Greenhouse is back to its former glory due to generous community funding and dedicated volunteer support; it is now a charity shop for plants. Open twice weekly for plant sales and donations, a monthly program of gardening sessions, talks and workshops is planned. The Greenhouse is available for hire to other charities or groups who share horticultural objectives.

Volunteers are welcome to join gardening sessions and to discuss ideas on the development of this special building in the wonderful Alexandra Park. Help us grow together for a greener future. See our website: our-greenhouse.org.

FRIENDS OF COMBE VALLEY

WILLIAM ACKROYD and the FCV COMMITTEE

Friends of Combe Valley was established in 2015 to help protect and improve the Combe Valley Countryside Park for the benefit of the environment and people. Now well established with a group of volunteers, it works with the Combe Valley Countryside Park CIC, which manages the park, and their agents Groundwork South. The park covers about 1480 acres, including the local beach, and from Glyne Gap extends inland, bounded by Pebsham, Sidley, Crowhurst, Hollington and West St Leonards, with Filsham Reed Bed and an SSSI along Combe Haven.

Regular work includes clearing paths, litter picks and dealing with dead and fallen trees. Funding from many sources bought a container, now fitted out to store tools and materials, with an outdoor working area.

Other funds have contributed to new signs which will be installed in the next few months. The main sign on the corner of Freshfield has been installed. FCV provides a warden service, patrolling the park regularly to keep an eye out for any problems.

An ongoing project is the development of a community garden around the Discovery Centre on the Bulverhythe Recreation Ground. New volunteers and members are always welcome, see our website for details.

FCV website: :friendsofcombevalley.co.uk/

CVCP CIC website: combevalleycountrysidepark.com/

HASTINGS & EAST SUSSEX NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

ERIC CAWTHRAW, DARRYL JOHNSON and SUE MILES

The Society was founded locally in 1893 and has recently celebrated its 130th  anniversary. In recent years, the Society has taken a friendly approach to attract those people who want to enjoy our beautiful countryside and improve their natural history knowledge and understanding. To this end, we arrange for periodic evening talks, informing both members and guests about many aspects of the natural world. Our members also like to share photographs and wildlife sightings via our WhatsApp Group.

The Society runs a Thursday weekly walks programme. Some of these walks are led by wardens and those with a specialist environmental knowledge and range from approximately 2 – 8 miles.

On a more serious note, the Society produces an annual Journal called ‘The Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist’ containing sightings, statistics and articles. Copies go to several prestigious universities in the UK and Irish Republic. We are arranging for electronic versions of the Journals to be made available for further access and study. Our Latin motto translates: “Nature does not reveal all its secrets all at once”. So, we must be forever watchful, showing great care and concern for having a healthy countryside and environment for future generations to appreciate.

Visit hastingsnaturalhistory.org or look for Hastings & East Sussex Natural History Society on Facebook.

STRANDLINERS

ANDY DINSDALE

Strandliners’ aim is to reduce toxic waste from our waterways and coastline for the benefit of people and wildlife. We survey for plastic pollution, identifying and recording the data as evidence to lobby for change, from the River Cuckmere to Dungeness along the coast and upstream. If we don’t record environmental pollution, how do we know what it is and how to stop it? We collaborate with many organisations and in 2023, we partnered with the Rivers Trust to survey across the Ouse, Adur and Rother catchments.

Our main concern is the adverse effects of man-made pollution on humans and wildlife, not only plastic  (throughout its lifecycle from extraction to disposal) but also sewage and agricultural/stormwater run-off. Much of our wildlife is disappearing due to pollution and habitat loss: the crises of plastic pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss are closely linked.

We strive for change through community engagement, delivering training and events, developing citizen science and increasing knowledge about plastic waste, wildlife and water quality. We aspire to leave a legacy, upskilling and motivating communities to rediscover their local environment.

To join or contact visit our website:strandliners.org

HASTINGS CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS

OWEN JOHNSON

Hastings Conservation Volunteers have organised practical conservation tasks on Sundays, working almost continually since 1987 wherever we are most needed. Everyone over 18 is welcome, and we provide tools, gloves, insurance and training. Nature sites which the volunteers currently have in their care include Sussex Wildlife Trust & reserves at Marline Valley (St Leonards), Flatropers Wood (Beckley),  the Powdermill Trust & reserves at Wainwright Close (St Leonards), Powdermill Wood (Battle) and Hooe Common. Volunteering with us will help you to keep fit, meet people and learn more about the environment; we believe passionately that practical action is the best way to reunite people with the natural world.

Contact Owen Johnson, 01424 426986, OwenJohnsonTrees@gmail.com

Website:simon45162.wixsite.com/hastingsconservation

THE POWDERMILL TRUST FOR NATURE CONSERVATION

OWEN JOHNSON

The Powdermill Trust was established in 1980 to protect at-risk sites of nature conservation in East Sussex. With several expert ecologists as Trustees, we currently own, rent, and manage nature reserves at Wainwright Close (St Leonards), Powdermill Wood (Battle), Hooe Common and Rotherfield. These places include the best example of a tussock sedge swamp in East Sussex at Powdermill Wood, the best-raised bog at Hooe Common, plus ancient woodland and unimproved pasture at Rotherfield; places full of rare species which would die out locally without our careful management.

For £10 a year, members gain access to our reserve at Rotherfield and receive a full colour newsletter. Contact the membership secretary: Jill Hart, 01892 852137 and c/o OwenJohnsonTrees@gmail.com.

Registered charity 1121510

Website: powdermilltrust.co.uk  (site relaunches soon).

FRIENDS OF SUMMERFIELD WOODS

SARAH WARD

If you don’t live near Summerfields Woods, on the border of Hastings and St Leonards, you may not know it even exists. This hidden local nature reserve is a remnant of the old Bohemia estate and is a rich deciduous woodland with a ghyll (gill) stream running through it. The ancient watercourse has cut a steep-sided valley through the woods, the banks of which are now covered in huge ferns and shade-loving plants. The stream collects in three distinct pools, the bottom of which has public artwork by Joc Hare. 

The woods are beautiful at all times of year and are currently covered in a carpet of bluebells. They are also home to many species of birds, butterflies, insects, plants, mammals and veteran trees, making them a unique biodiversity hotspot just five minutes from Hastings train station.  Summerfields Woods belongs to HBC and is looked after by a volunteer group that meets once a month. The group is very welcoming and would love to introduce new people to this wonderful place.

Please find us on Facebook: Friends of Summerfields Woods

TCV THE CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS, HASTINGS

LORNA NEVILLE

The Conservation Volunteers is a national conservation charity and this year we’re marking 65 years of connecting people and green spaces across the country. Our local branch is in Hastings and from here, we coordinate conservation activities on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays to benefit people’s health and wellbeing and improve green spaces for nature and biodiversity in East Sussex. “Connecting with nature is so valuable for us all,” says Carrie Edmonds, TCV Sussex Senior Project Officer. “Together we can help the environment and feel the benefits of exercise and fresh air, which is so good for physical and mental health.”

All our sessions are free to join, and they will be at various locations, from woodlands to wetlands, nature reserves to hospitals. People can meet us on site or at our Fearon Road office for a lift in the minibus.

We also run the East Sussex Health Walks scheme with four walks every week in Hastings, and the 123 Walks website of maps for one-, two- and three-mile nature walks. Find us on Facebook for lots of local wildflower walks this Spring.

For conservation contact carrie.edmonds@tcv.org.uk 07764 655609 or see tinyurl.com/TCVSussex.

For Health Walks contact lorna.neville@tcv.org.uk 07740899559 or see tinyurl.com/EastSussexHealthWalks.

BEXHILL WILD CIC

DAVID EP DENNIS

Bexhill Wild CIC is a project-based registered community interest company working to conserve wildlife and landscape in the coastal area between Rye Harbour and Pevensey Marshes. It uses the grants it receives to help other organisations that are working to save wildlife.

The company has four directors. David EP Dennis is also the Project Manager for Bexhill Town Council’s Bexhill Wild Domesday Project, liaising with East Sussex County and Rother District Councils and many other local and national organisations. 

 Bexhill Wild CIC projects include: 

• urging local and national-level protection for Galley Hill’s rare wildlife and special beach landscape 
• increasing anti-drought measures for wildlife in woodlands 
• electronic bird recordings of all public woods inside Bexhill’s nine wards using PUC AI 
• conservation and enhancement work in Sidley Woods and the streambed of the Egerton Park stream 
• provision of hedging plants and seeds 
• the provision of trained ward wardens for Bexhill 
• slide presentations about all aspects of nature including wildlife food chains and seashore inter-tidal life

You can contact our Managing Director David EP Dennis if you are interested in a presentation  by emailing bexhillwildCIC@outlook.com

A regular column to update readers on the damaging effects of the current management of water in Hastings, surrounding areas (and nationally) and what people are doing about it. If you have any information, please contact community@hastingsindependentpress.co.uk marked Clean Water Watch.   

“YOUR WATER MATTERS”

The day of the Southern Water (SW) drop-in at the Stade on Thursday 12 October dawned with an excellent 7.15am interview with Becca Horn of Clean Water Action on Allison Ferns’ BBC Sussex show. 

THE DROP-IN

SW had a strong presence even before the meeting began, with some heavy-looking security. The hall filled up quietly when doors opened at 11am and we were provided with a very slick ‘meet and greet’: diagrams, models, and hi-tech equipment were on display with engineers keen to explain what they were doing. The PR message was, ‘we acknowledge we’ve made mistakes but we’re here to listen’ with a subtext of ‘but look what we’re doing already’. 

SPEECHES AND INTERVIEWS

BBC South Today and ITV Meridian News were present with Cllr Andy Batsford being interviewed on one channel. XR led a ‘toilet protest’ outside the hall, while the crowd steadily grew. The police, primed for a disturbance, busied themselves moving the crowd around ‘for everyone’s safety’. Speeches began at 12pm.

Clean Water Action: Becca Horn gave a rousing speech, reminding the crowd why they were there, summarising problems and explaining what they wanted to achieve.

Parents for Future (Hastings & St Leonards): Jen Rouse lent the weight of this national organisation to the event, reminding us that this is about the future, not just the current mess.

Sewage Contamination Group: Myriam Lengliné, in black clothes and beret emphasising her fighting spirit, talked about the battle to bring the contamination of Old Roar Gill to the attention of SW and how they have been “dismissing and misleading residents’ concerns”.

Boycott Water Bills: Katy Colley gave an impassioned speech, reminding us, amongst other things, of how Hastings beaches had been off limits for 54% of the summer. Focussing on how ‘people power’ had got us this far, she finished with inspiring optimism.

Save Old Roar Gill: Anna Silvatica highlighted the importance of Alexandra Park, and the Old Roar Gill in particular, as a place for the community to enjoy for the future, reiterated concerns about being ignored by SW despite monitoring the water both visually and through water testing .

XR Hastings: Jane Ripley, a water pollution chemist, rounded off the impressive line-up, emphasising the importance of planning for the future security of our water system as an integral part of our planet’s future.

SUMMING UP

While the PR offensive was impressive, it could not hope to make up for the lack of communication over the last year or so. It was good to hear what SW were planning and see the resources they were bringing to bear such as the hi-tech portable testing system. But how did we get into this mess in the first place? The following extract is from a paper by the Royal Society of Chemistry on Combined Sewage Outflows (CSOs), a major cause of the sewage pollution we suffer in this town and elsewhere. It pins the blame squarely on the water industry. 

“Although, there is no doubt that everyone has a role to play to help reduce the frequency and duration of CSO events … the real power to solve this problem lies with the water industry and the need to invest to repair, replace, and extend our water infrastructure. From pumps to pipes, this infrastructure is often out of sight and out of mind. In fact, the frequent use of CSOs in England could simply be the symptom of an infrastructure deficit in need of funding and upgrading.”

A regular column to update readers on the damaging effects of our current management of water in Hastings, surrounding area (and nationally) and what people are doing about it. If you have any information, please contact community@hastingsindependentpress.co.uk marked Clean Water Watch.   

Save Old Roar Gill (SORG) 

After SORG contacted Hastings Borough Council (HBC) about a polluted stream near the bottom of Mulberry Walk, the council followed up with Southern Water (SW), who replied: “We have investigated this and have found multiple misconnections in homes in Folkington Gardens and Lullington Gardens.” This is written confirmation of SORG’s contention that the Gill is being polluted by sewage and is “a step closer to finding out exactly what is going on”. Hopefully action will follow.

Clean Water Action Group (CWAG)

CWAG volunteers are gearing up for a new period of testing to monitor water quality. Test results earlier this year (Feb-May) and a recent one-off revealed extremely high E-Coli results at Combe Haven outflow on Bulverhythe beach (4400cfu/100ml: good bathing water quality <500cfu/100ml). This is a real health concern with so many families swimming in the water through the heatwave, and results have been reported to SW and the Environment Agency (EA). A full report on their activities in the past year will be published shortly. Follow @cleanwateractgp for updates.

With SW now conducting year-round testing in Brighton, CWAG are writing to request the same in the Hastings area and will also be launching a crowdfunder to cover the expense of their independent year-round testing as ‘citizen scientists’ (around £80 per test inc p&p). 

An article in the Sunday Observer on 12 August about pollution in the river Wye underlines the “vital difference” made by citizen scientists. Talking about the accumulation of evidence, one local campaigner says: “We want it to reach a tipping point so it just can’t be ignored.” An article in The Guardian, 13 September, confirms this importance by reporting the failure of the EA to “regularly audit water companies to check they are telling the truth about pollution and illegal sewage dumping in England”.

Stop press! Local businesses becoming involved. Among these @haul_out, a benefit gig with DJs and SHE Choir on Saturday 23 September at Oscar’s on the Square, 8.00pm-2.00am – proceeds going towards the testing programme.

Local campaigns

We previously mentioned the 7 September meeting at Eastbourne Town Hall to discuss strategies in public protesting and local government involvement to curb SW’s policy of sewage dumping. One speaker, Julie Bygraves, talked about the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model used by water authorities and how it encourages them to acquire a ‘steaming pile of debt’ using their regulated assets as collateral. Read Julie’s article at sussexbylines.co.uk/news/environment/money=down-the-drain.

Apparently, it was also a great opportunity for networking, particularly highlighting the role played by CWAG locally: an opportunity to share information and create strength in numbers. 

Hasting Borough Council

We have been unable to obtain any updates in time for this edition. In the meantime, to report problems with SW you can use this link: tinyurl.com/myfu7bb3

News from the media

The BBC has published a very informative article on illegal sewage dumping in dry weather with clear explanations, diagrams, maps and further links. Much of the data relates to SW.

bbc.com/news/science-environment-66670132

West England Bylines is compiling a useful catalogue of information related to pollution of our rivers and beaches by water companies in England and Wales. englandbylines.co.uk/features/sewage-watch-focus.

A recent article quoted from the Times indicates that people power is growing: “Polling of 6,000 adults by Survation… found that discharges into rivers and seas will affect how more than 56 % of people vote.”

Another, via a tweet from Fergal Sharkey, highlights a recent speech in parliament in which Conservative MP, Ian Liddell-Grainger, addressed Penny Mordaunt, as Leader of the House, saying: “She will be shocked to learn that Britain’s worst water company has now resorted to thuggery and strong-arm tactics to silence parliamentarians and the press.” 

Another indication that people power is beginning to bite.

A significant win: The BBC reports that: “The House of Lords has blocked the UK government’s plan to relax restrictions on water pollution to encourage housebuilding in England.” 

CORRECTION

In the last Clean Water Watch we wrote that the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) had confirmed in writing to the Boycott Water Bills website that action to boycott payment of sewage bills was ‘appropriate’. What in fact the letter confirmed was, according to the Water Services Regulation Authority (OFWAT), water companies cannot chase for money while a customer is in dispute with them. For the full contents of the letter go to www.boycottwaterbills.com/faqs (Q5).