We Dig Hastings: New Video Showcases Community-Led Seafront Planting Project

A new community-led planting initiative is transforming Hastings seafront into a living lab for climate-resilient gardening — and a new video captures the story behind it.

In October 2025, Hastings residents and community groups came together on the seafront for We Dig Hastings, a pilot planting weekend hosted by Transition Town Hastings in collaboration with experts from Great Dixter.

Over two days, more than 50 volunteers worked alongside Fergus Garrett and the Great Dixter team to create a new, climate-resilient test garden on the seafront at Denmark Place. This trial bed marks the first step in studying what type of biodiversity-rich planting thrives best in our challenging coastal conditions.

The project, ‘We Dig Hastings’, was documented by local filmmaker Andrew Davies. A short film now shares the energy of the weekend and explains the inspiration and thinking behind the planting and explores how the project aims to help create greener, more welcoming spaces across the town centre.

The film can be watched here.

Fergus Garrett, Head Gardener at Great Dixter, said: “It was great to see the local community working together to launch the trial planting garden. The garden will act as a living testbed, helping to understand which plants perform best, how they support biodiversity, and how they can contribute to climate resilience, including surface water management in the town.”

The findings from the seafront trial planting will play a key role in helping to shape the wider landscape design for the town centre public realm project, testing future landscaping and biodiversity approaches.

The wider public realm transformation which includes planting, new accessible walking and cycling routes, and enhanced public spaces, is currently scheduled to start construction in Autumn 2026. 

Cllr Julia Hilton, Deputy Leader of Hastings Borough Council and lead councillor for shaping places and local government reorganisation, said: “The vision is clear, to create a greener, more welcoming route through the town that brings nature right into the heart of the town centre, manages surface water and improves everyday experiences for our residents and visitors alike.”

How to get involved:

This is a long-term project.  Over the coming year, the plants will be closely monitored, with a series of four observation sessions planned to track performance, resilience and maintenance needs.
The monitoring will be done by a small team of Hastings resident volunteers, led by Great Dixter and supported by local gardener, Sam Van Den Bogaerde.

The first session took place on Friday, 5 February, from 10am -1pm. Look out for the next one on 21 May from 4pm – 7pm. Everyone is welcome to drop by, ask questions and watch the team in action!

Future plant-monitoring will take place on:

Thursday, 21 May 4pm-7pm

Thursday, 23 July 8.30-11.30am

Friday, 6 November 10am-1pm

For updates and to get involved with future initiatives, visit the Transition Town Hastings Facebook page www.facebook.com/transitiontownhastings.