In May we did two Blossom walks at the beautiful Peacehaven Community Orchard. Mayor David Seabrook kindly met us there and gave us a great tour explaining all the different varieties and the challenges of running such a large orchard. The blossom was stunning and the biodiversity here has improved so much in the last few years, it’s a beautiful site to walk around at any time and located next to the Big Park in Peacehaven there is chance to wander round enjoying a cuppa from the café.

 

We also returned to The Last Wood and Meadow in Seaford for our wildflower walks, a stunning area rich in biodiversity. We met with locals who didn’t know the site existed and enjoyed a herbalist and local experts findings while we were there. If you haven’t been do take a walk there, so many species of wildflowers, butterflies and insects, it really is a treat.

I also got to visit some of the great green groups in the area and hear how they have been getting on, many of these groups are run entirely by volunteers and it is their passion to protect green spaces and the animals within them that keeps them going.

 

I  got to sit and chat with the Seaford Swift group who work hard to try and educate people on the need to protect these endangered birds, they always return to the same nests so educating home owners with existing nests and getting swift boxes up in the right places is crucial to survival. I love the sound of the swifts, it’s a reminder to me that summer is here and I love watching them swoop about feeding. If you are interested in joining or having a box fitted, find out more on Save Seaford’s Swifts on facebook.

 

There is also a new swift group started in Newhaven called the Newhaven, Peacehaven and Denton Swift group who are looking for new members and hoping to get extra boxes at sites for next years arrival of swifts.

 

I also got to meet a fantastic group in Saltdean. The Saltdean Climate Action Network meet regularly and are focusing on Energy, Transport, Biodiversity and Food waste. They have great plans coming up in the future so if you wish to get involved please contact them via their facebook page.

We also held a brilliant Buglife morning at The Peverells Community Garden in Seaford where Alice and I had loads of young people and adults whizzing around the garden catching bugs and enjoying the space. Lots of fun was had by all. Our Moth trap was also lent out to a local family and we loved looking at the results in the morning, even in an urban area the results were amazing! This really is great fun for all the family so please do contact me at contact@greenhavens.network if you would like to book the moth trap in for your family.

We have some exciting dates coming up in Autumn with two dates for a seed swap. Firstly on the 30th September in the Parcel Room at Bishopstone station FOBS,  Greenhavens will be running a seed and plant swap from 11-2pm.

 

And then on the 14th October at The Peverells Community Garden there is a Harvest Festival with Greenhaven’s holding a seed swap there. Do join their facebook pages to get up to date information.

 

Our Network Meeting is at the Anzac Room in Peacehaven  13.09.23, with a talk from “The Peverells Community Garden” in Seaford hearing all about it’s creation and development. Do join us from 7-9pm to hear all about this exciting new space.

 

October also brings the first of two fungi walks with the fantastic Martin Allison at Castle Hill in Newhaven. Starting at ten am join us on the 17.10.23 and then on November 3rd we return again to see what fungi inhabit this beautiful space.

 

From all at Greenhavens I wish you a great Autumn exploring the beautiful green spaces that surround us and I hope to see you at one of our events this year.

 

For any more info please email contact@greenhavens.network.

 

Miriam