August 2011 - Planting Scheme
The Next Wave innovative promenade planting scheme has had its own guide for visitors produced after Rother District Council has been inundated by calls from amateur gardeners. Green-fingered visitors have been turning the Council's switchboard red-hot in a bid to find out more about the flowers and shrubs that have been used on Bexhill's seafront as part of its £5 million 'Next Wave' regeneration scheme.
As a result, the Council has produced a pamphlet to let people find out more about the new seafront blooms, which have thrived since being planted in the winter. The new gardens have been designed by leading horticulturist and writer Dr Noel Kingsbury. He was inspired by Derek Jarman's famous garden at Dungeness. The result is a planting scheme which probably cannot be found on any other major promenade in the country, but is perfectly suited to its seaside environment. Dr Kingsbury's approach to the tough climate includes peppering the plant species in amongst each other, rather than segregating them into distinct chunks. Plants include a wide range of Hebes, Cistus, and Lavender, mixed in with other wild flowers. The planting has already attracted huge public attention, despite not being expected to mature fully for another three to four years.  The gardens form just one part of the regeneration scheme for Bexhill seafront, £1 million of which was funded by the Commission for Architecture and the Built environment (CABE). The scheme includes the regeneration of the listed King George V Colonnade, a seafront restaurant, public lawns, landscaping, new rowing club, play equipment, seating and prize-winning seafront shelters.
Next Wave is being delivered by leading London architects HTA, with project completion due shortly. Rother District Council leader Cllr Carl Maynard said: "We were caught a little by surprise at just how many people wanted more information on the new gardens. "Our project manager has been fielding phone calls and emails for the past several weeks requesting planting lists. As a result, we've decided to produce this guide so people who visit the seafront can find out exactly what has been planted." Cllr Maynard added: "When the planting was taking place a minority of people did suggest plants wouldn't grow on the seafront. I'm pleased to say, they are in fact thriving, and I hope this guide will be of use to gardening enthusiasts visiting Bexhill." The planting guide can be downloaded here: Alternatively, the planting mix can be viewed in hard copy at Bexhill Museum.
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