Easter in Hastings, and more to come!

If you'd like to explore Hastings fishing quarter, the Stade Fishing Quarter Guided Walk returns this Saturday and Sunday (website), organised by the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS). Meet up at 11am both days, outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road (inside if raining, though not expected to rain this weekend) ready to explore the net huts, fishing industry and beach, and learn the history of this hundreds of years old industry for a walk of up to about 90 minutes. You are advised to wear suitable footwear and clothing, and if you have any special mobility needs please contact the Fishermen's Museum in advance. This used to be a free guided walk dependent on donations, but now costs just £4, and is delivered by a volunteer. Great to see the return of these walks!

Of course there is much more to do over the weekend, for all ages, eg see Hastings Pier's facebook page, and, as I said last week, for most Sundays there is free live music on the pier too (blog). For further details of events this weekend, see Hastings Easter Festival website, or go to visit1066country.

If you've wondered what this (above) was, situated by the Hastings Contemporary Art Gallery, indeed, which arrived during the evening of the 31st of March, it is the Green Lady, and the harbinger of Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green, which returns to 'normal' over the May Day weekend this year (website). Incidentally, this week the gallery was accepted as a donation from the Jerwood Foundation to Hastings Borough Council; it will continue to be run by its current local management.

Have a good extended public holiday weekend folks!

Pop-Up Covid Vaccination Clinic in Hastings Town Centre Today

Just spotted this in the town centre outside 'Debenhams' (Hastings Borough Council website for more information). The 'pop-up clinic' will be there until 4pm this afternoon and is for people who are aged 18 years or older, for First dose, Second (if over 8 weeks since First) and Booster (if at least 3 months since Second).

Also, as said recently (blog), from today face coverings are not required in law in indoors public spaces and on public transport, but be sensible and stay safe folks!

Hastings parks win national awards!

This is a slightly edited version of Hastings Borough Council's recent press release as the Council has won two awards for innovation in parks management. "The projects that secured the awards were for bathing water quality improvement in Alexandra Park and the introduction of Belted Galloway cattle, conservation grazing and heathland restoration at Hastings Country Park.

Councillor Colin Fitzgerald, lead member for the environment said, "The country park and Alexandra Park are two of just eight inspirational parks and green spaces in the UK to achieve the award, which is presented to Green Flag Award or Green Flag Community Award winning sites that have made changes which have brought outstanding benefits to both their site and the local community."

"My thanks go to the dedicated council staff who found innovative ways of achieving their aims and then saw the projects through... In 2015 we established an innovative free roaming conservation grazing project (Hastings Country Park). We introduced a small herd of Exmoor ponies and Belted Galloway cattle to manage the wooded glens and slopes which are inaccessible for the mechanical equipment we would normally use. We opened up fencing so the cattle and ponies roam freely in the woods and steep slopes, allowing them the same freedom as walkers... Our innovative use of free roaming grazing animals to manage threatened habitats on public land successfully combines biodiversity and wildlife management with public enjoyment and getting closer to nature, especially for residents from disadvantaged communities in the town."

Regarding the award won by Alexandra Park Fitzgerald said “Waterways are a key feature in Alexandra Park. The Waterways Improvement Project started in the winter of 2014 and was completed in November 2016. The project aim was to reduce the contamination from surrounding sources and misconnections within the plumbing systems of some local houses entering into the stream flowing through the park. This involved the natural treatment of water in Alexandra Park through the creation of weirs, wetland, silt traps, planted stream channels, floating island eco-systems, pond edge treatment and an aeration system that sucks water through natural gravel and plant filtration beds. As a result of our work, stream water now travels slower through the park giving greater exposure to UV light, providing beneficial microbes and root filtration. The longer the water can be kept in the treatment areas the greater effect the power of nature will have to revitalise the quality of water discharged into the sea, resulting in improved bathing water quality at the outfall to the sea.”

Paul Todd of the Green Flag Award Scheme said "Congratulations to everyone involved in the Hastings Country Park and Alexandra Park projects, both worthy winners of the Special Innovation Awards. Research has proved that quality parks and green spaces play a vital role within their local communities. Hastings Country Park and Alexandra Park are perfect examples of this." 

We add our congratulations too, quality work Hastings Borough Council!

Photographs are mine, except the Galloway Cattle, with thanks to HBC.