The Friends of Lewes formed its Trees Committee in 2012 to establish the concept of a Lewes Urban Arboretum, consisting of existing tree stock in the town along with additional plantings. We consult with residents and landowners across Lewes to identify possible places to plant new trees, or to replace existing ones to restore or improve the overall streetscape and environment.

Since 2014 we have successfully planted and cared for 82 mature street trees in Lewes and we have plans for more.

This Google Map shows the location of the trees we have planted.  Click on the green tree symbols for photos, location, and details of the trees planted.

 

 

On Thursday 22nd July, Lewes Swift Supporters (LSS) installed 3 new Swift nest boxes at the homes of 3 of their Supporters who live in the Swift “hot-spots” of De Montfort Road and Western Road. This is part of the LSS project to expand existing Swift colonies by providing nest spaces to compensate for those nooks and crannies under eaves that have been lost through demolition, development or renovation.

In line with their goal of “improving our environment, increasing biodiversity and mitigating the results of climate change by collaborating with other Lewes-based groups with such aims”, Friends of Lewes were pleased to be able to partly fund the purchase and installation of the 25 boxes which have been installed by LSS since October 2020.

Lewes Swift Supporters have also advised several other residents so that they may confidently purchase and install their own Swift nest boxes. If you are thinking about installing one ready for next year, you may contact them via lewesswifts@gmail.com or visit their website.

Installing Swift nest boxes in De Montfort Road and Western Road, Lewes, July 2021
Click on image to enlarge

 

Friends of Lewes frequently collaborates with other Lewes-based community groups to improve our environment and increase biodiversity. We were pleased to have the opportunity recently to part-fund a project to provide more nest box accommodation for Swifts, organised by Lewes Swift Supporters. In February, six new nest boxes were installed in De Montfort Road, in addition to the ten boxes installed in Western Road in October 2020.

Lewes Swift Supporters have sent their thanks to Friends of Lewes for this generous funding and given us some information about their project.

“This area at the top of the town is a “hot spot” for Swifts since 32 of the 64 nests recorded in 2020 were found there.

Since the Roman era, Common Swifts have made nests in eaves, nooks or crannies of British buildings. The design of modern buildings and renovation of older buildings mean that many of these nest sites have disappeared. As a result, the number of Swifts has declined by 50% since 2000. By providing nest box accommodation, we aim to increase Swift numbers towards their previous levels.”

You can find out more about the Swifts in Lewes and how to support them, by contacting lewesswifts@gmail.com

Swifts nest box installed under the eaves

 

At the beginning of February 2021, members of Friends of Lewes Trees Committee helped to plant a new wildlife hedge alongside the fence at Jubilee Gardens Open Space, off Juggs Road, Lewes. The 200 whips used are all native trees and include Field Maple, Hornbeam, Spindle, Blackthorn, Downy Birch, Silver Birch, Pedunculate Oak, Hawthorn, Dog Rose and Hazel.

The trees were funded through a “Beelines” grant from South Downs National Park Trust as part of their campaign to create new wildlife corridors to link habitats and make it easier for pollinators to flourish. The project was another successful collaboration between Lewes Urban Arboretum and Lewes District Council and we are grateful for the support of Chris Bibb, LDC Specialist Adviser, and Jan Knowlson, SDNP Ranger. Thanks also to Matthew Stuart of Bonny’s Wood, for delivering the mulch for the hedge.

The hedge-planting is one of several activities that have been planned towards meeting two of the Friends of Lewes “Climate Action” goals for 2020 and beyond: increasing our tree canopy cover; and improving our environment, increasing biodiversity and mitigating the risks resulting from climate change by collaborating with other Lewes-based groups with such aims. Find out more about our goals

Hedge planting at Jubilee Gardens, Lewes [Map]

 

In January this year the Trees Committee of the Friends of Lewes planted over 200 whips (small trees) in the grounds of Lewes Cemetery to make two wildlife hedges along the bottom wall and fence near to the Winterbourne. The trees include Alder, Blackthorn, Alder Buckthorn, Guelder Rose, Hawthorn, Hazel, Hornbeam, Dog Rose, Rowan, Spindle, Willow and Field Maple.

Together with the 27 trees that we planted there in November 2020, and the Elm which we planted earlier in January this year, they will help to make sure that there is a long flowering season for the many pollinators recorded at the Cemetery.

The work was completed over three mornings by small family pairs of volunteers as part of the Lewes District Council and Lewes Urban Arboretum project to further increase the biodiversity of this important Local Wildlife Site. Our plans to involve more volunteers had to be changed because of the current Covid-safety regulations but the whips needed to be planted as soon as possible before they came out of their Winter dormancy.

We had intended to pay for the hedge whips ourselves, but thanks to collaboration with Chris Bibb of Lewes District Council, and Jan Knowlson of the South Downs National Park, it has been fully funded by a successful application for a “Beelines” grant from South Downs National Park Trust.

Hedge planting at Lewes Cemetery, January 2021. Click image to enlarge

 

This year made a positive start for the Trees Committee of Friends of Lewes with the planting of a new Elm tree, Ulmus “New Horizon”, at Lewes Cemetery on January 15th. The tree was awarded to us by the Tree Council as the result of a successful application for one of the thirty trees they wished to donate to Tree Wardens to celebrate thirty years of their Tree Wardens Scheme. In our application we explained the nature conservation value of Lewes Cemetery, which is designated as a “Local Wildlife Site”. It provides a good habitat for a wide range of pollinators, and the rare Long-Tailed Blue Butterfly, Long-horned Nomad Bee and Brown-banded Carder Bee were all recorded there in 2020. Elms are the sole food plant of White-letter Hairstreak butterflies and this species has suffered as a result of Dutch Elm Disease.

The Ulmus “New Horizon” was introduced in 1957 by Eugene Smalley, who was determined to “put a smile on the landscape” by creating disease-resistant Elms that could tolerate the harshest of conditions. The tree is said to be 100% immune to disease and able to grow despite drought and floods. It is the same variety as the four lovely Elms which we planted on St. Anne’s Hill as a joint project with ESCC in 2017-2019.

Our tree is planted at the top end of the Cemetery, just inside the gate nearest to the Winterbourne Hollow entrance. We are very grateful to Lewes District Council, especially Chris Bibb, LDC Specialist Adviser, for their permission and support in planting this tree – and the twenty-seven other trees which we planted at the Cemetery in November.

Planting the disease-resistant Elm, Ulmus “New Horizon” at Lewes Cemetery

 

Congratulations to the three winners of the “Design a Nature Trail” Competition organised by Friends of Lewes!

Eliza Godsmark, age 8, submitted her winning entry of a Plasticine model of her family’s allotment, and two Year 7 pupils at Priory School sent in copies of their Nature workbooks recording the wildlife found in the school grounds.

They will each receive a prize of a £15 book token.

The competition was launched alongside the recent publication of the Town Nature Trail leaflet: designed by Lewes Urban Arboretum and Wildflower Lewes to celebrate the natural environment of Lewes. This is one of three leaflets providing guides to walks around Lewes which are suitable for following at any time of the year.

Download your copy of the leaflets

Eliza and her Plasticine model of her family’s allotment, and a nature walk collage, and map, from two pupils at Priory School. Click on image to enlarge

 

This November members of the FoL Trees Committee made a fantastic start to the tree-planting season by planting thirty mature trees in Lewes!

27 of these trees were planted at Lewes Cemetery on Sunday 1^st and Wednesday 4^th November, and three more were planted on Mount Harry Road, and Prince Edwards Road on the 7^th.

They were also successful in their application to the Tree Council for one of 30 Elms trees made available to celebrate thirty years of the Tree Wardens Scheme. The DED-resistant Elm, Ulmus “New Horizon” will be delivered in January, to be planted at Lewes Cemetery. This is the same sort of Elm as the four planted by FoL on St. Anne’s Hill, in collaboration with ESCC.

Click on image to enlarge

Full story on the Lewes Arboretum page

 

 

A message from Lewes Swift Supporters

The swifts are back in Lewes!

This year, Lewes Swift Supporters have introduced a citizen science project called Lewes Swift Watch to engage as many locals as possible in reporting sightings of swifts across Lewes. We would very much like you to become involved by posting your swift sightings to our Facebook group, “Lewes Swift Supporters” or by sending an e-mail to us at lewesswifts@gmail.com.

Because of the current lockdown, our formal surveys will be restricted for most of the swift season, from May to August, so your reports will be of great importance to us! For your safety, we ask that you make your observations from your home or garden, or during your daily exercise walk. A few details are all that is required. Please let us know:

• the date and time of your sighting – we are most interested in low-flying swifts as they’re our local birds!;
• where you observed the birds – an address would be good if possible;
• the number of swifts that you saw; and
•  whether you saw any swifts entering or leaving a nest – if you can describe the exact location on the building, that would be great!

From all the information posted, we hope to increase our knowledge of nesting swifts in Lewes. This will help us to protect the birds and decide how best to expand the population. If you have the privilege of hosting an active swift nest in your home, we’d love to hear what you’ve learned from monitoring your birds.

 

Caroline Russell, (Communications Officer, Lewes Swift Supporters)

 

Nature2020 is a year of events and activities to celebrate and highlight the natural environment of The Living Coast, Brighton and Lewes Downs local biosphere reserve.

The Nature2020 programme aims to raise awareness of, and connect people to, the environment we live and work in. They have a calendar of events at www.nature2020.org.uk/whats-on

The official launch of Nature2020 takes place on Friday, January 31, 2020 from 11:00 to 15:00 – meet at Saltdean Library and walk to Brighton Marina along Undercliff Path by the chalk cliffs Site of Special Scientific Interest. Register for this event.

More about Nature2020