Hawth Hill is an area in the North of Seaford, sandwiched between the A259 and the railway line. In June 2022, one of the residents got in touch with Seaford Natural History Society, about Orchids which were growing in the roadside verge. We went to investigate and discovered a large group of Pyramidal Orchids, located in one section of verge. We also noted that some of the adjacent verges, whilst not having the Orchids, also had flower species associated with good quality, unimproved chalk grassland.
This year, a team from SNHS and On the Verge, went to Hawth Hill, to undertake a more detailed survey. The Pyramidal Orchids had come up in even greater profusion! There were 54 plants in flower in the verge where they were last year, and one on the adjacent verge. We also found in the vicinity nine other plant species which are indicators of high-quality chalk grassland.
Having seen that there was something worth protecting, SNHS, along with On the Verge, entered a conversation with the local authorities, to see what could be done. Roadside verges are in the “domain” of County Councils, as they are part of the highway. There is a scheme to designate verges which have botanical interest as a “wildlife verge”. Once designated, the verge would be protected from indiscriminate mowing.
Hawth Hill is not the only part of Seaford with good quality grass verges – Bishopstone Rd and Edinburgh Rd have previously been designated as “wildlife verges” and indeed, any verge which has an underlying chalk bedrock has the potential to become a wildlife verge.
Unimproved chalk grassland is an extremely important, and increasingly rare, habitat. It is very susceptible to any activity which adds nutrients to the soil (for example, dog fouling, car exhaust emissions and the direct application of fertilisers). It is also severely harmed by the application of herbicides and by invasive plants like Cotoneaster. However, with careful management, it can be a tremendous source of biodiversity and a carbon store. Normally we think of places like Seaford Head for this sort of habitat, but with careful management, many of our roadside verges can be miniature wildlife reserves!
Seaford Natural History Society and On the Verge
To find out more please email
- ontheverge@renaturingseaford.org
- snhs.vingoe@gmail.com
