‘Mini South Downs’ thriving in Westdene

Chalk-loving plants have been added to a chalk bank created last winter in Westdene, Brighton.
 
Children from Westdene Primary School helped to create the new habitat which includes a stag beetle loggery. They’ve named it Westdene’s ‘Mini South Downs’ as it is designed to replicate the rare chalk habitats of the South Downs, providing a much-needed food resource for wildlife, and to reconnect nature within the city.
 
Over the summer many plants such as purple toadflax, red clover and burdock have started to colonise the bank naturally. They’ve now been joined by other native chalk loving plants such as scabious, birds-foot trefoil and rock rose. 

Joining up nature in the city

Westdene’s ‘Mini South Downs’ will join the network of ‘B-banks’ – miniature reconstructions of grasslands found on the Sussex Downs – which are dotted around the city, helping to provide essential habitat for wildlife and join up areas for nature.  
 
An ecological survey completed in 2020 evidenced the biodiversity importance of the B-banks with over 745 species recorded on the 1.26-hectare banks combined.
 
The children designed a colourful interpretation board for the site which takes pride of place. 

Our City, Our World

It is part of the Our City, Our World initiative, which is seeing schools across Brighton & Hove leading the way on environmental action and education.
 
Councillor Lucy Helliwell, joint chair of the Children, Families & Schools Committee, said: “We hope this space will become a rich habitat for many species of insects including butterflies and bees, linking the downs and the city, and joining the network of other B-banks in the city.  
 
“These smaller spaces are just as important as our big open spaces and parkland. It is great to see school communities playing a leading part in making habitats where plants and animals can thrive, helping to restore biodiversity and creating havens of nature for everyone to enjoy.”

More information

The chalk bank is at the junction of Barn Rise and Bankside. Plants were collected and grown locally by the Wild Flower Conservation Society.

Read the B-Banks survey on The Living Coast website