Tucked away at the end of Micklefield Way in Seaford is a Green which was once the running track of Micklefield School. When houses were built on the site the Green was left as a delightful open space. It is well used by dog walkers (most of whom are careful to use the dog poo bin) and has a large expanse of grass ideal for ball games. (There are also ways into the Green from Kingston Way and via a twitten from Cuckmere Road).
When you first approach the Green you hardly notice the trees but there are forty different species. They provide a surprising variety of interest throughout the year.
At the moment, in early Spring, the trees appear to be dead – but take a closer look and you can see that some are already beginning to open their little shoots. There are ‘sticky buds’ on the young Horse Chestnut tree. There are dangling catkins on a large tree called a Hop Hornbeam which, later in the year, has seeds and bracts which look like hops.
Another tree near Kingston Way has intriguing twigs with little woody cones and two types of catkins all at the same time. Male and female catkins are on the same branch; pollination is done by the wind. This tree is an Alder. They like to grow near water but this one seems to be doing well on the Green.
One family of plants (the legumes) has nodules on the roots containing bacteria which increase the nitrogen in the soil. That makes the soil very fertile. Although it is not in that plant family, the Alder has nitrogen fixing nodules on its roots. It is estimated that Alder trees have been growing in wetlands in England since 5000 BC!
One tree is already in flower – it is a Chanticleer pear. Its pretty white flowers are attracting bees – at the end of March.
Beneath the trees the ground has been cleared and raked and flower seeds have been sown. To some people they are weeds but they attract bees, butterflies and pollinating insects. In the summer they make a very colourful display.
A little group of Seaford people have begun to watch and record the trees and plants and wildlife – Friends of Micklefield Green. They hope other people will find the Green and start to enjoy it and also join in their group walks and chats.
The group can be contacted by email via info@renaturingseaford.org (Please put Micklefield Green in the email header)
MAD March 2023
