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A habitat survey of the Borough was undertaken over a number of years by the Tourism & Leisure Department to assess the habitat resource of the Borough.
The habitat survey provided for the first time in Hastings:-
- a record of the extent and location of wildlife habitats
- a statistical basis for monitoring habitat and land use change
- identification of areas to be considered for protection
- identification of a green network of semi-natural and informal open space
- an information base for consideration within the planning framework e.g. applications, Borough forward plan
- a basis for the first nature conservation strategy for the Borough.
The survey was conducted during the period 1989-92 utilising the standardised habitat survey methodology developed by the forerunner of English Nature, the Nature Conservancy Council. The Borough was divided into 1km grid squares and habitat types recorded and mapped. It is important to note, however, that the Country Park, Combe Haven SSSI, Marline Valley Woods SSSI and LNR and St Helens Wood LNR were not included in the survey.
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A total of 750 sites were identified within the Borough with 41 different habitat types representing approximately 37% of the land use area of the Borough's 30km2. The following Table provides an overview of the major habitats in the Borough and includes all protected and unprotected species.
(Habitat type; Habitat Area (ha); % of Borough)
Woodland; 293; 10%
Scrub; 75; 2%
Grassland; 432; 14%
Tall Herb and Fern; 47; 2%
Heathland; 2; 0.1%
Swamps; 33; 1%
Open Water; 12; 0.4%
Maritime Shingle; 1; 0.03%
Miscellaneous; 225; 7%
Total Area: 1120; 37%
Hastings has a higher percentage of woodland habitat than any other habitat type. The woodlands themselves range in age, structure, diversity and nature conservation value. The most valuable woodlands are classified as "ancient woodlands", having been established since at least 1600 AD. Due to their age and semi-natural structure, they represent the most valuable woodland resource for wildlife. They are very rich in flora and fauna which, due to their complex natural associations and historical continuity, are irreplaceable as a habitat and cannot be "re-created" once lost. Approximately 126ha of the woodland resource of Hastings is classified as ancient woodland with areas at St Helens Wood, Church Wood, Old Roar Ghyll and Marline. (Inventory of Ancient Wood and Semi Natural Woodlands - Nature Conservancy Council 1989).
Semi-natural woodlands younger than 400 years also constitute an invaluable nature conservation resource in the Borough, playing host to a diversity of flora and fauna and providing an important landscape and amenity feature for local residents.
Many of the Borough's woodlands are protected through the Tree Preservation Order process and seven of the most important Borough owned woodlands have management plans in operation. The management of our woodlands is essential to ensure a diverse age structure and promote a varied ground flora with natural regeneration.
It is important to recognise the woodland edge as an integral part of any woodland habitat. Few of the ancient woods in Hastings retain a broad border of herb-rich grassland and scrub. Like sunny glades and rides, the woodland edge supports a different range of woodland plants and insects. These species have generally suffered greater losses than those adapted to shade, due to the reduction in woodland management of recent decades and to the loss of peripheral habitat to efficient agriculture or development encroaching upon the woodland boundary.
In habitat terms, scrub is an intermediate stage in the ecological succession from grassland to woodland. As a habitat, scrub is relatively scarce in Hastings with only 48ha remaining outside protected areas. Consisting mainly of hawthorn, blackthorn, sallow, gorse and bramble with elder, wildrose and broom as lesser constituents, the thick impenetrable clumps of vegetation are invaluable as safe havens for nesting, migratory and winter birds such as finches, warblers and thrushes.
More open structured younger scrub areas hold an even greater diversity of birds, insects and plants due to the greater mosaic of conditions. In Hastings, gorse is the characteristic scrub to develop on the sandier, poorer soils and the associated fauna is different from thorn scrub.
There are many different categories of grassland habitat, ranging from species rich wildflower meadows to coastal and marshy grasslands which support specific floral and faunal associations.
Traditional species rich meadows are in sharp decline throughout Britain, due mainly to changes in agricultural and management practices. Over 95% of Britain's flower rich meadows have disappeared over the last 40-50 years. These species rich grasslands are known as unimproved as opposed to improve grasslands which denote the use of inorganic fertilisers, herbicides, ploughing and re-seeding with monocultures of grass species.
In Hastings, the few remaining unimproved grasslands are now protected on statutory sites and managed appropriately. There is however, a significant area of semi-improved grassland which still retains a diverse and valuable number of species. The best of these sites are in the minority and include the Cemetery and the old Golf Course at Filsham. Much of the remaining grassland is 'improved' and either managed for agriculture, having little or no conservation value, or unmanaged due to allocation for building and supporting just a few species of note.
Managing areas of grassland to increase floral diversity involves changing mowing patterns to encourage early and late flowering species. As wild flowers thrive on low fertility soil, an important aspect of grassland management is the removal of cuttings to avoid a build up of fertility, which tends to encourage the growth of docks, thistles and course grasses.
Amenity managed grassland tends to be the least valuable for wildlife. Managed as a closely mown sward it is dominated by vigorous growing rye grass. Whilst found mainly in our parks, sports and recreation grounds, grass verges and public amenity open space, these areas do have the potential for alternative management approaches although recreating a wild flower meadow will only be successful if a diverse flora and fauna seed bank exists in the first place.
Rough grass and herbaceous communities tend to develop on derelict or disturbed land or land neglected and left vacant for many years. Whilst found in every urban area, these habitats can be havens for birds, urban foxes, small mammals and a whole variety of insects. Although a very vulnerable habitat through being targeted for "improvement schemes" it is nonetheless, an important urban habitat and an integral part of the green network of the Borough. One of the most important herbaceous communities in Hastings is found at Broomgrove.
Heathland habitats in the south east are now very rare. Characterised by the growth of heather and gorse on acid soils, the Country Park is the only location left in Hastings where this habitat type survives.
Wetland habitats are important on a national scale. Drainage schemes in the countryside have resulted in an ever-increasing loss of wetland habitats and within urban areas, diverse wetlands are particularly vulnerable to drainage and land use changes.
Hastings supports two of the most substantial reed bed sights in Sussex at Filsham, SSSI and Glyne Gap. Reed beds are nationally scarce habitats which support a range of specialist plant and animal communities.
Open water habitats range in size and wildlife value from ponds with a diverse marginal vegetation to reservoirs with no bankside vegetation at all. Most of the small ponds to be found around Hastings have suffered from a lack of management, becoming overgrown and choked or silted up. However, most ponds respond very quickly to restoration work which can dramatically enhance their wildlife interest and nature conservation value. Due to the rapid rate of ecological succession in wetland habitats, management is essential to retain their wildlife value.
Ponds are an easily created habitat which very quickly attract a whole range of aquatic plants and animals naturally adapted to locating new habitats. As ponds are integral to surrounding habitats e.g. woodland, meadows, it is important to include management principles for surrounding habitats as well as the ponds.
There are a number of streams which run south, through the Borough to the sea from the northern high ground. The ghylls provide shelter, shade and moist microclimate favourable to a range of specialised plants, whilst the water is home to a whole range of different species.
Stream habitats are particularly susceptible to pollution and run-off from road drains which can alter the rate of flow of streams as well as introducing toxic elements to the detriment of the plant and animal communities associated with it.
Walls and hedgerows not only provide links between wildlife sites but can be valuable habitats in themselves. Old mortared walls in urban areas can be home to a variety of scarce or specialised plants, often providing spectacular floral assemblages of considerable local character.
There are approximately eighteen plant species associated exclusively with walls, some of which are exceedingly rare. Significantly, eleven are to be found on just two vegetated walls in the Old Town at High Street and All Saints Street.
Hedges have suffered national decline over the last few decades due to neglect, field enlargement and field boundary replacement by fences. Older hedges may support relic woodland flora as well as providing food, shelter and breeding sites for birds, mammals and a host of insect species. A number of valuable hedges exist in Hastings, the most notable being at Barley Lane.
Cliffs and maritime shingle play an important part of the natural heritage of Hastings. Specialist plants, animals and birds can be found on these habitats, indeed sea kale and yellow-horned poppy are to be found at only two locations along the shingle beach in Hastings, at Glyne Gap to Bulverhythe and Rock-a-Nore. The cliffs at the Country Park play host to breeding birds as well as providing shelter to plants and animals specialised in withstanding the high salt conditions.
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(Site Name, Map Ref/Scale, Area (ha), Habitat Descriptions,)
TQ783100/1:3500
9.98
Semi-improved meadow and scrub
TQ827108/1:5000
10.67
Mature scrub complex
TQ836105/1:3500
5.71
Wooded stream valley
TQ792125/1:1250
0.21
Open water with marginal vegetation
TQ775084/1:10000
11.27
Maritime cliffs and shingle beach
TQ822095/1:2000
3.55
Rough grassland, scrub and coastal rock outcrop
TQ792088/1:4000
3.02
Colonised cliff
TQ827125/1:2250
2.51
Semi-natural woodland
TQ785113/1:5000
27.57
Semi-natural woodland and meadow complex
TQ815102/1:1250
2.14
Mixed use allotment
TQ828097/1:3000
5.08
Bracken/gorse rocky outcrop
TQ773087/1:2500
1.05
Reeded stream
TQ806129/1:1250
0.53
Open water and meadow
TQ825098, TQ827097/1:2000
250m, 270m
Vegetated walls
TQ793125/1:5000
13.93
Semi-natural woodland with associated stream and meadows
TQ798123/1:1250
0.15
Managed grass verge
TQ823116/1:2500
3.38
Semi-rural woodland
TQ804115/1:5000
7.87
Ancient semi-natural woodland
TQ792105/1:5000
21.80
Semi-natural woodland with associated stream and meadows
TQ827094/1:1250
2.11
Shingle beach
TQ778114/1:1250
0.50
Grassland/scrub/pond
TQ780105/1:4500
20.88
Semi-improved meadow, open water and semi-natural woodland
TQ773084/1:1250
0.72
Semi-improved grassland
TQ7805090/1:3000
3.96
Reedbed and carr
TQ767085/1:2000
5.55
Marshy grassland and reedbed
TQ802105/1:1250
0.55
Semi-improved meadow
TQ803127/1:3000
8.05
Semi-natural woodland and meadow complex
TQ788090/1:3000
4.11
Rail side marginal habitat
TQ80090997/1:3000
7.30
Semi-natural woodland
TQ806105/1:12500
0.87
Semi-natural woodland edge
In addition, sites of nature conservation importance exist outwith Hastings boundary but which Hastings Borough Council have a leasehold or freehold interest:-
a) Hastings Golf Course : semi-natural neutral/acid grassland, ancient woodland and open water features.
b) Pebsham : farmland with reed dyke and herb rich grass banks.
c) Hastings Country Park Triangle: Gorse scrub, recent woodland with open sparsely vegetated sandy areas.
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This page last updated: 28/03/2003