Volunteers looking after green spaces in Brighton and Hove were invited by their Rangers at Waterhall to meet Paul Gorringe, who is in charge of the local rewilding programme.
Waterhall was a golf course for seventy years and over the past four years the aim has been to restore the chalk grassland and improve habitats for multiple species. This project has been funded by National Lottery money and is led by the National Trust. No power tools are used, no pesticides, the work is done following the precepts of organic gardening. Multi-species grazing is done by twenty Sussex Red cattle, seven wild ponies and sheep are also brought in. Rangers Paul and Mike are helped by zealous volunteers who cut, clear, restore and encourage natural processes for the landscape to recover and reconnect with itself.
We looked at a large variety of moths collected (and released), wildflowers and ant hills. Paul and Mike run educational programmes for school children and are very keen to educate and show the importance of wild spaces in our lives. On this note we were reminded that we should keep our dogs on lead during the breeding season which runs from beginning of March to end of July as dogs run into thickets and bushes and disturb nesting and young wildlife. From a thousand dogs a day visiting Waterhall four years ago, numbers are down to two-hundred-and-fifty a day. Paul explained various reasons why dogs’ behaviour should be monitored by their owners, such as the presence of cattle, school children, wildlife habitat and even the preservation of the ph of the soil which is altered by dogs’urine and excrement! As Paul said, most dog owners are obliging, but some abuse the Rangers or take signage down, not considering that this rewilding project is very fragile and reliant on everybody’s decent behaviour to be a truly successful story and a legacy for future generations.
Paul Gorringe is always looking for new volunteers so if you would like to know more about volunteering at Waterhall please get in touch with him at wildingwaterhall@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Friends of Preston Park next walk is the General Tree Walk with Alister Peters on Saturday 9 August, 13:00-14:30, starting at the Rotunda Cafe. Not to be missed! Book now on our website.
If you are keen to try some gardening in Preston Park we welcome volunteers on Tuesdays 10 to 1pm in the Rose Garden or on Thursdays 10 to 1pm in the Rockery. Please come along and meet the teams.
