Henfield Parish Council designated 2024 the local Year of Biodiversity to signal how important our local environment is to us now, and to generations in the future. Although the Parish Council has limited resources and often relies on volunteers to deliver projects, we hope we can demonstrate that it is committed to protecting the wildlife, trees and environment that we value, and will prioritise in council decisions.
2024 has already got off to a good start. Firstly, we have set up Henfield Nature, an informal umbrella group of wildlife supporters to act as a steering group this project. It includes local wildlife experts and enthusiasts from several of our local clubs.
The Year of Biodiversity was officially launched at a very well-attended event in Henfield Hall on 17 January 2024. Our keynote speaker, naturalist Michael Blencowe, told us many fascinating facts (and some tall tales) in his talk ‘The Wonderful Wildlife of the Lost Woods’. He focussed on Henfield’s flora and fauna and encouraged us with news about the good things happening for nature recovery in our village. Did you know Henfield is a hot spot for the Stag Beetle, or that you can find the eggs of the endangered Brown Hairstreak Butterfly on blackthorn bushes around the village?
In February Libby Morris led a training workshop - Henfield Nature Challenge - to help local people record their wildlife sightings. Increasing the number of recorded species for Henfield is a very important way we can all help. Conservationists and decision-makers use these records to help plan ahead for nature recovery, know what needs protecting and where things are working well. The records also help with planning surveys and can of course highlight an important natural habitat that must be preserved. Also in February was the wonderful Henfield Birdwatch celebration event with David Plummer and the Gardens and Arts’ Seed Swap.
Spring is the time when many gardeners set up their garden for the season. In support of our Year of Biodiversity in Henfield, and to encourage a wider variety of wildlife in our gardens, maybe you could consider making your garden a little more wildlife friendly as this can really make a difference to pollinators. Ideas include having a small area of lawn unmown, at least during No Mow May, or leaving a small area for wildlife where the dandelions and stinging nettles can remain to help our bees and butterflies.
Get your garden on the map! The Parish Council supports the Weald to Waves project, which is creating a Nature Corridor including our area. If you could add your own garden to the ‘Weald to Waves’ pledge map, that would be fantastic. We hope to see many pledges from local gardeners who can show a few wildlife features like a pond, a small meadow area or similar, included in this pledge map by the end of the year www.wealdtowaves.co.uk/
Our March Flower of the month is Violets. Do send your photos of wild violets seen around the village to the Parish Council Facebook page. Henfield PC are purchasing some heritage violets which are the same varieties grown and sold by Misses Allen-Brown at their flower nursery near Henfield Common. The violets will be planted in the flower beds at Coopers Way during March by the mosaics that commemorate the suffragettes in Henfield including Misses Allen-Brown. This seems an appropriate way to celebrate Henfield’s historic connection with violet growing.
Other planned events linked to our Year or Biodiversity will include a Bioblitz event in the Tanyard during the Gardens and Arts weekend on 8 June, and we also hope to arrange a bug hunt for families with Sussex Wildlife Trust in the summer holidays, a lichen and moss walk and bat detecting walks with support from the Lost Woods of the Low Weald project. Dates will be announced nearer the time.
Look out for more news in the coming months about a special Henfield community walk in late July in memory of Malcolm Eastwood. It is especially poignant at this time, as Councillor Malcolm Eastwood suggested the idea of this focus on biodiversity as a follow-on from 2023’s Year of Children and Young People in the village. He felt that this was a fitting way to recognise the fantastic contribution to village life made by groups such as Henfield Birdwatch and Henfield Gardens and Arts who celebrate their 25th Anniversaries this year. The route of the walk will include some of the things Malcolm cared about and contributed to the village, as well as lots of nature which he championed: The Henfield Trails with nature pointers, the Common and the Memorial Field to name a few. We really hope that as many villagers as possible will join us on this walk and make a contribution to the family’s chosen charity.
There will be lots more going on this year so please check www.henfield.gov.uk/2024-biodiversity for more news
Gillian Perry