Geograph - photograph every grid square

The Carpet Gardens near Eastbourne Pier have long been a feature that has been used to promote Eastbourne as a tourist destination. This year, however, they are being renovated on a trial basis to introduce a more sustainable planting scheme that offers greater biodiversity while at the same time giving the opportunity to remove an invasive non-domestic weed called Oxalis. The change being made to the traditional planting responds to modern-day concerns such as having appropriate plants in a time of likely climate change to hotter and drier conditions, reducing the maintenance costs of a twice yearly planting regime, and providing habitat throughout the year that better supports wildlife, including pollinating insects.

Later in the year, the Carpet Gardens will feature plants that flower in different seasons. meaning that there will be an ever-changing scene and features of interest throughout the year. Rather than the more formal style of planting, a change will be made to a more informal style where 22 species of shrubs, herbaceous and bulbous plants will be planted repeatedly in an end-to-end pattern of undulating waves inspired by the nearby waves on Eastbourne�s shore. Between the waves of planting, the ground surface will be visible with a mixture of graded gravel mirroring the nearby beach. It is planned that the new naturalistic and informal style will fit in with the wider environment and that the selection of plants will be well adapted to the microclimate of their seafront location with high levels of sunshine but also coastal winds carrying salt spray. The plants selected include Yucca gloriosa, Euphorbia characias and Helianthermum.

The work for the Carpet Gardens is being led by the Sussex-based landscape and garden designer, Peter Thurman. Mr Thurman trained at Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, and he has advised on environmental management both in the UK and overseas. A section of the Carpet Gardens will be planted in the traditional style, as this will give the public an opportunity to compare the old and the new; Eastbourne Borough Council invites comments from both residents and visitors to help inform future decision-making. The scheduled time frame for the work is between 12th May 2025 and 21st June 2025.