Friends of the Old Brickfield - Renaturing Seaford

This important nature reserve is a former brickyard, located on the Seaford sea front in a dip in the landscape and occupies a former tidal inlet.

The Friends of the Old Brickfield, are local volunteers who work with Lewes District council to protect and maintain the Brickfields nature reserve for people and wildlife.

History

All evidence of the site’s brick-making past has long gone. Today a mixture of coastal and terrestrial habitats surround the site on two sides, with housing, Marine Parade and the sea to the south and the Seaford Railway line to the north.

The site was saved from housing development in 1997 following a public enquiry, and now has a community group devoted to the protection of the site; The Friends of Seaford Brickfields.

A pond area was installed in 2008 at the northern end of the site.

Wildlife

Although small, it contains a number of rare national habitats and species including vegetated shingle and remnant salt marsh.

The dominant habitat is improved grassland which provides home to good slow worm and Lizard populations, small mammals and a variety of insects. These in turn support birds including kestrels.

There is a network of footpaths on around the site. Some are designated Rights of way and are maintained as part of our management programme.