Working Together to Reach Net Zero – Community Conference

Posted on by Sue Standing

When: Thursday 19 October 2023, 15.00-19.00
Where: Worthing Assembly Hall Stoke Abbott Road Worthing BN11 1HQ
FREE: Registration required
 

Book your place:   Working Together to Reach Net Zero – Community Conference – Community Works

Join us for an inspiring and informative conference, brought together by Climate Resilience Centre Worthing (CREW), Transition Town Worthing (TTW) and Green Tides in partnership with Community Works.

Are you a local business owner or employee responsible for driving eco change, and based in Adur, Worthing, or across West Sussex? Or are you a local community organisation?

Embark on your journey towards net zero emissions.

Do you want to discover how (community and business) collaboration and shared responsibility can drive climate resilience and mitigation efforts, while benefiting local businesses on their journey to net zero?
Are you worried about the costs of transitioning to sustainable practices? Fear not! Our expert speakers will showcase real-world examples of innovation and success stories from organisations that have already made significant progress in reducing their carbon footprint, and cost savings.
Do you want to gain invaluable insights, practical tips, and ask questions relevant to your organisation? You’ll have opportunities to ask the experts and to book a workshop to suit your interests.
 

Community plays a crucial role in supporting businesses to move forward. Together, we can create a resilient and sustainable future for Adur, Worthing, and the wider region

Aims:

Bring together community and business to work on climate resilience and mitigation.
Inspire local businesses on their journey to net zero.
Give examples of cost-saving as well as carbon saving
Discuss what the community is doing /can do to support businesses on their journey.
Hear from national and local business leaders on their own journey.
 

We will provide FREE finger foods, teas/coffee and the bar at the venue will be open.

 A full programme including speaker biographies and workshops will be available on our website shortly.  

If you have any questions, please contact Faustina: faustina@communityworks.org.uk  or telephone main office 01273 234023.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Sustainable Scything

Posted on by Debs Nicolls

The heritage art of scything dates back hundreds of years and is still a viable and sustainable method of land management today. With the move towards using less fossil fuel it offers a carbon neutral way to manage a habitat which is better for the environment and the wildlife within it.

It is possible to cut various areas such as longer grasses, wildflower meadows, waterside vegetation, orchards and private gardens. Without the need for power tools such as strimmers or mowers. Unlike power tools, there is very little maintenance required and it should last a lifetime, so it’s a good choice in the long term to save money.

Scythes can be used to create islands of wild flowers and longer grasses in rotation, which offers havens for pollinators and other wildlife. It is possible to cut up to three times a year in a mosaic pattern in order to stop some plants becoming too dominant or to allow wildflowers to be able to come though. One can work from the middle of an area outwards in order to allow living creatures in the cutting area the chance to escape. This mimics the use of grazing to maintain scrub areas where animals cannot be used.

A huge benefit of scything is the health and wellbeing of the scythe user versus the use of power tools. It is a great way to build up fitness and used correctly will not put any strain on the body. It is a wonderful and peaceful way to be part of the habitat that you are cutting without loud machinery and PPE including headphones and masks. This makes scything an ideal way for private garden owners, volunteers and green space groups to manage their areas independently.

On Thursday 7th September Stephan Gehrels from the Brighton Permaculture Trust came and delivered a Scythe training day to the Adur and Worthing Council Ranger team.

This was a ground-breaking day as it was the first council ranger team to take on this challenge and consider the use of scythes when possible in their work. It was a fantastic training day that I also attended as the Adur and Worthing Wildflower Trail Projects volunteer (link below)

https://www.thewildflowertrail.org/

During the day we learned how to use the scythe in various habitats as well as the method of cold forging known as ‘Peening’ in order to maintain and sharpen the scythe blade.

 

We came away fully able to use the tools safely. The lighter Austrian Scythes are available to buy from the BPT with the whole starter kit if keen to carry on scything. It is hoped that this sustainable training can be rolled out into the wider Community and further Scythe days can be organised via the Brighton Permaculture trust when the cutting season comes round again. (link below)

Brighton Permaculture Trust – Scything Workshop

For more information about scythe training or to express any interest in the use of Scythes, or our Wildflower Trail project, contact Debs Nicolls on the email below.

wildflowertrailprojects@gmail.com

TTW Greenspaces – The Triangle

Posted on by Sue Standing

The Triangle is a smaller plot of land in Tarring, where Haynes Road meets Guildford Road. It is currently gardened by a handful of local residents, including children. It has raised vegetable and soft fruit beds, some fruit and native trees, herbs and a wild area with a small pond, housing frogs and our resident toad!

Our small shed, which we made from pallets, houses a few tools and provides a mini water catchment area for the water butts. Anyone is welcome to come and help with the garden and share produce.

We soon hope to create together a small children’s area.

The Triangle

Worthing

BN14 7LL

traceyjanmclaren@gmail.com

Friends of Tarring Park

Posted on by Sue Standing

The group does meet up itself but is linked to Tarring Community Forum. The TCF meets every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 pm. The venue for meetings is West Worthing Baptist Church, South Street, Tarring, Worthing. Any FoTP members who are not able to attend the meetings are kept up to date with forthcoming events and become involved where they can.

The main aim of Friends of Tarring Park is to help maintain the park, notify any problems to the appropriate authority, and to make good use of the park by arranging Community events. Events include Easter Egg Hunt/Easter Bonnet Competition, Picnic in the Park and Carols in the Park. Also, a new event this year is ‘An Autumn Walk n the Park’. This involves an interesting and informative talk by an expert about the various trees in the park.

We hold monthly litter picks on every 2nd Saturday of the month from 10 am. These are advertised as being friendly and sociable. We encourage members of the local community to join in including children.

Tarring Park is situated between Church Road and South Street , Tarring. It leads onto Church House Gardens which is the home to Tarring Priory Bowls Club. As well as the lawn bowls green there are adjacent tennis courts. Within the park itself there s a children’s playground and a MUGA.

Friends of Tarring Park

Worthing

BN13 1EU

dee.richardson19@outlook.com

Shoreham Beach Local Nature Reserve

Posted on by Sue Standing

The Shoreham Beach Local Nature Reserve extends along Shoreham beach from the land at Shoreham Fort to the Church of the Good Shepherd.

It is approximately 100 m wide from north to south in most places and is around 25 times longer in length at 2.5 km total area 26.2 hectares. About half or slightly less is vegetated shingle which is an internationally rare habitat as most shingle moves and prevents growth of vegetation. It used to be the only UK site of the Starry clover plant but it is now growing on Lancing Beach and in Hampshire.

The Friends of Shoreham Beach Local Nature Reserve (LNR) work to protect the LNR, and educate and help people enjoy it. So they run Beach Cleans, an annual Flower Walk, Rock Pooling when conditions suitable, Bird Walks, Lectures, Stands at outside events and other educational events. A marine biologist runs educational events for schools on the LNR.

The LNR is owned by Adur District Council and the Friends manage the LNR with advice from specialists and the Adur-Worthing District Council parks department.

Starry Clover on the reserve
Starry clover on the reserve
Shoreham Beach LNR
Shoreham Beach LNR

The end of May is the best time to see the flowers. It has the rare Starry Clover, Trifolium stellatum, and a population of Yellow Horned Poppy. Guided wildflower walks by arrangement.

The Friends organise specialist surveys. In 2018 Graeme Lyons did the first extensive survey of the LNR invertebrates and in all he has found 249 species and over 10% of these have conservation interest. As some insects will only use one plant the maintaining of the habitat is important to for the continued support of this diverse population of insects.

Events notified by email to members and others requesting information about events.

Beach Cleans: friendsofshorehmbeach@gmail.com

Schools educational visits: stevep.savage@ntlworld

It is accessible anytime. There is a board walk for wheel chairs over most of the Reserve.

Visit the Friends of Shoreham Beach Local Nature Reserve website.

Eastbrook Community Gardeners

Posted on by Sue Standing

Secret gardens and wildflowers

We are a small group who came together because we are interested in improving Southwick and Fishersgate green spaces for the well-being of people and pollinators alike. Our primary focus is sowing wildflowers and planting trees.

We work on St Aubyns in Fishersgate and now have a base near Eastbrook Manor Community Centre called The Secret Garden-Fishersgate. We support Layland Court pocket park, Manor Court garden and the Friends of Southwick Square. We are waiting on Impulse leisure centre in Southwick to plant an orchard and a wildflower meadow.

For more information please contact

Secret Garden

Fishergate

West Sussex

BN41 1PN

eastbrookcommunitygardeners@gmail.com

.

Cortis Avenue Wildlife Garden

Posted on by Sue Standing

Cortis Avenue Wildlife Garden (CAWG) is located off Cortis Avenue, Broadwater, Worthing (BN14 7BG) .  It is a small site (owned by Worthing Homes) about the size of a football pitch. It is managed by a constituted community group of volunteers. The site is gated for security as the original site was a fly-tipped playing field. As well as a refuge for wildlife in an urban area, we aim to be an educational resource for people interested in encouraging wildlife into their gardens.

A rich habitat for pollinators
A colourful wildflower meadow

The garden is open for visitors and volunteers every Wednesday and Friday between 10am and 12 noon, and also at those time on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month.

The site is managed to create a number of different wildlife habitats – trees and hedgerows, orchard, pond, wildflower meadow, herb garden, rough grass, nettles and brambles. Flowers planted for sun and semi-shade to attract pollinators, and we have a beehive.

The types of flower plants are quite numerous so examples only:

Dappled Shade – wood spurge, primrose, foxglove, honesty, dames violet, garlic mustard, red campion, cow parsley

Sunny – wild carrot, knapweed, scabious, oxeye daisy, teasel, mullein, mallow, white deadnettle, ragwort (for Cinnabar Moth), plus annual wildflower mix

Flowering Trees and Hedgerow – Buddleia, Bird Cherry, Spindle, Guelder Rose, Dogwood, Wild Rose, Hawthorn, Alder Buckthporn, Hazel, Sussex Heritage Apple Trees, Wild Service Trees, Blackthorn, Field Maple, Elderberry

The wildlife supported includes butterflies – Yellow Brimstone, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Small Copper, Red Admiral, Peacock, and various Moths, including the Cinnabar Moth.

Also a range of other wildlife – damsel and dragonflies, pond creatures, mini-beasts and bugs e.g. shield bugs, grass hoppers, beetles.

And of course, we always have a resident fox.

We can be contacted via our email address: corstisavewildlife@gmail.com or phone 01903 530780 to speak to the Secretary.
Cortis Avenue Wildlife Garden | Facebook

Broadwater and Worthing Cemetery

Posted on by Sue Standing

2023 Events:

July 1st11:00Bricks and Mortar (new tour for 2023)
August 5th11:00Alter Egos (new tour for 2023)
September 2nd11:00Motoring Matters (new tour for 2023)
October 7th11:00A Tree Tour (new tour for 2023)

Broadwater and Worthing Cemetery is an active cemetery located off South Farm Road, it comprises of approximately 14.5 acres of land and provides a peaceful haven for wildlife and residents alike.  There is a rich selection of plant life throughout the cemetery: various grasses, deciduous and coniferous trees, bushes, and shrubs such as dog rose, holly and buddleia. Throughout the year, from spring to winter there are flowers to spot and enjoy, including snowdrops and primrose in late winter, lesser celandine in early spring and extensive swathes of oxeye daisies in summer.

Oxeye Daisies
Oxeye Daisies
Lesser Celandine
Lesser Celandine

Since 2008, volunteers with the Friends of Broadwater and Worthing Cemetery Group have been maintaining select areas for the benefit of insects and wildflowers. Throughout the cemetery there are several areas (totalling around 180m2) that have been designated “no mowing” areas, wooden markers have been positioned to indicate this to grass cutting contractors.

The main entrance is located on South Farm Road, between Ardsheal Road and Carnegie Road. On Weekends and Bank Holidays there is an entrance on Carnegie Road. Access is best during daylight hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:00am to 6:00pm from October to March, Monday to Sunday: 8:00am to 8:00pm from April to September. Main paths are wheelchair and pushchair friendly.

There is no parking available on site however there is ample parking on South Farm Road if required. 

Volunteers are encouraged to assist with regular clearance days which run the last Saturday of every month between 10.00 am and Midday. This is currently on hold due to Coronavirus restrictions; however, it is hoped that this will return soon.

For more information on the Friends of Broadwater and Worthing Cemetery and volunteering opportunities check out their website:  Friends of Broadwater and Worthing Cemetery (fbwc.co.uk) .

For general information visit: Broadwater Cemetery – Adur & Worthing Councils (adur-worthing.gov.uk)

Breathing Spaces Community Flower Farm

Posted on by Sue Standing

Breathing Spaces Community Flower Farm is located at the Maybridge Keystone Centre in Worthing. Breathing Spaces is now a Transition Town Worthing project and this is a volunteer-led community garden that provides the opportunity to connect with nature via tending a small urban flower farm There is space for growing wild flowers for the benefit of people and pollinators and this is being expanded in a strip along the back of the playing field.

Breathing Spaces Community Flower Farm
Proposed site for the new wildflower strip

Breathing Spaces started up a dedicated patch of around 4m2 and have already established wildflowers in other growing areas around fruit trees and in long grass areas. Using donated wildflower plants and collected seed, they are creating a vibrant wildflower habitat. The long grass is cut down at the end of the season and cleared away in the traditional hay cut method. Examples of species include Campion ‘ragged robin’, Red Valerian, Dock, Sorrel, Cowslips, Yarrow, Tansy, Knapweed, Cornflower and Wild carrot.

The site is open during Maybridge Keystone Centre opening hours, the hours can vary so it’s best to check first before visiting. The flower farm is not wheelchair accessible at present, (although the Woodland Garden which they also tend is). The site is accessed by walking across part of the playing field. The best time to see the wildflowers is around Early Summer.

Volunteers are welcome on Thursdays between March and December, 10@30-12:30.

For more information visit Breathing Spaces.

Beggars Bush Wildflower Meadow

Posted on by Sue Standing

Beggars Bush wildflower meadow is located at Beggars Bush car park, Titch Hill Road, Sompting BN15 0AY.

The site is about 3500m squared with a plethora of Chalk meadow flowers; eg birds foot trefoil, greater knapweed, restharrow, bladder campion, bristly oxtongue, ladys bedstraw, agrimony, yellow rattle. Only the last of these has been sown in. We cut and remove the grass in autumn, and spread it on the lower meadow extension area.

There are no restrictions, as it is an open access area and can be visited directly from the adjacent free public car park. Flowers are at their best in June-July.

Fly tipping and littering have historically been an issue. Future plans are to introduce seasonal sheep grazing, involve volunteers through Sustainable Sussex’s Community Farm, and with SDNPA funding
help to make this part of a circular walk taking in our Lychpole Farm.

We can consider saving and sharing seeds for the future, however, in 2023 and 2024 we expect to need all the seed generated on site for the meadow’s southward extension.

For more information visit Sompting Estate and Sustainable Sussex