A Bexhill park is flourishing after grant funding supported the planting of new fruit trees, bulbs and wildflowers.

With funding from Rother District Council’s Coronation Community Orchard Grant Scheme, a total of 10 fruit trees have been planted in Barrack Hall Park.

it was created by volunteers from Barrack Hall Allotment Association, the Old Town Preservation Society, Bexhill Environmental Group, and Bexhill in Bloom, supported by the district council with tools provided by idverde, the council’s grounds maintenance contractor.

As well as the planting of trees, the funding allowed bulbs and wildflowers attractive to pollinators to be planted, a path to be laid through the orchard area and to the play area for access in the wetter months, an additional gated entrance to the open space to improve safety and the installation of interpretation posts.

New trees have been planted at Bexhill's Barrack Hall Park.

placeholder image — New trees have been planted at Bexhill's Barrack Hall Park.

Cllr Kathryn Field, the district council’s portfolio holder for environment and climate strategy, said: “It’s fantastic to see the result of everyone’s hard work and I am pleased that the district council has been able to support this project.

“This is the latest scheme to benefit from the government-funded Coronation Community Orchard Grant Scheme, which has enabled the planting of 138 trees across 12 sites in the district, supporting our ambitious and ongoing efforts to reduce the district’s carbon footprint and helping to develop a more diverse, healthy, resilient tree population in Rother.”

In support of the scheme Living Communities – a group of professional artists based in Bexhill, and with the help of The Men’s Shed and Brewers Foundation, worked with young people in Sidley to design and paint wooden shapes inspired by nature. The shapes have been weather proofed and attached to railings close to the newly planted trees.

Cllr Field added: “The Barrack Hall Park scheme has been a real community effort with people of all ages taking pride in their surroundings and creating a focal point for community activities, improving their natural environment and increasing biodiversity.

“A big thank you to all involved, particularly tenants from the allotment who worked so hard to help get the trees through challenging conditions during the summer months, and The Men’s Shed who have created wooden plaques displaying tree names and interesting facts about them.”

DEFRA’s Coronation Living Heritage fund which seeks to create green spaces and connect communities with nature as a permanent reminder of the coronation of King Charles III, also supported the creation of a third micro wood for Rother on Bulverhythe Rec in Bexhill earlier this year.