The BLUE Campaign Rewilding Britain
What is the BLUE Campaign?
This year, the Council are supporting the BLUE Campaign’s ‘Rewilding Britain’ nationwide initiative to help combat this loss by allowing 40 areas in the District to ‘rewild’. These special areas are identified by blue heart information signs and blue heart symbols at larger sites.
Rewilding sites in Mid Sussex
Following successful trials in 2020 and 2021, the Council received further requests for additional sites and a total of 40 areas of open space have been identified for rewilding across the District this summer.
These sites will be roped off at the start of the growing season and can be easily identified by blue heart signs and symbols.
Details of the BLUE campaign trial rewilding areas in Mid Sussex can be found by clicking the drop down arrow below.
Site Name |
Town |
Albourne Recreation Ground |
Albourne |
Ansty Recreation Ground |
Ansty |
John Pears Recreation Ground |
Ashurstwood |
Newlands Open Space |
Balcombe |
Cants Lane Open Space |
Burgess Hill |
Chanctonbury Road Open Space |
Burgess Hill |
Chestnut Close Open Space |
Burgess Hill |
Greenlands Drive Open Space |
Burgess Hill |
Maple Drive Open Space |
Burgess Hill |
Marle Place Recreation Ground |
Burgess Hill |
Orchard Road Open Space |
Burgess Hill |
Railway Lane North Open Space |
Burgess Hill |
Royal George Recreation Ground |
Burgess Hill |
Triangle Open Space |
Burgess Hill |
Wisden Avenue Open Space |
Burgess Hill |
Humphry’s Field Recreation Ground |
Copthorne |
Burleigh Wood Estate Open Space |
Crawley Down |
Cuckfield Recreation Ground |
Cuckfield |
Whitemans Green Open Space |
Cuckfield |
Brooklands Park |
Cuckfield |
East Court Recreation Ground |
East Grinstead |
Farm Close Meadows |
East Grinstead |
Herons Ghyll Open Space |
East Grinstead |
Imberhorne Lane Recreation Ground |
East Grinstead |
Maple Drive Open Space |
East Grinstead |
Keymer Cemetery |
Hassocks |
Shepherds Walk Open Space (once Network Rail works are completed) |
Hassocks |
Beech Hurst Gardens |
Haywards Heath |
Butlers Green Open Space |
Haywards Heath |
Clair Park |
Haywards Heath |
Dolphin Leisure Centre |
Haywards Heath |
Frankton Avenue Open Space |
Haywards Heath |
Heath Road Car Park |
Haywards Heath |
Oaklands |
Haywards Heath |
Vale Road Open Space |
Haywards Heath |
Woodvale Lane Open Space |
Haywards Heath |
Constance Wood Recreation Ground |
Horsted Keynes |
Nursery Close Open Space |
Hurstpierpoint |
Lindfield Common |
Lindfield |
West Common Open Space |
Lindfield |
2021 Growing Season
All 25 BLUE Campaign sites across the District grew well over the summer and a variety of different meadow grasses and wildflowers appeared, greatly benefitting wildlife.
Birdsfoot trefoil, yarrow, red and white clovers, dandelion, ragwort and oxeye daisy, were all seen blooming at a number of our BLUE Campaign meadows. Birdsfoot trefoil alone can support over 150 species, and the good news is, that we recorded it at a great many of our sites this summer.
At most sites we counted at least 10 wildflower species, over 15 at many sites and over 35 species at a couple of really biodiverse sites. We also saw bee orchids at a site in Burgess Hill and common spotted orchids at various sites across the District.
Bee Orchids, Burgess Hill
Common Spotted Orchid, Burgess Hill
Meadow at Butlers Green
We’ve also spotted numerous butterflies such as meadow browns, skippers, peacocks and whites, as well as plenty of other insects including, moths, caterpillars, bees, beetles, plant bugs, grasshoppers, beetles, dragonflies, damselflies, plus other invertebrates such as spiders.
These sites have now been cut and cleared so might be looking a little bare. This is important to keep the soil fertility low which benefits the wildflowers and grasses we are trying to encourage.
How to get involved
If you have an area of your garden you can leave to rewild this will help to support all the animals and insects in your garden. More information can be found on the BLUE Campaign's gardeners page
Schools can get involved too through the Eco schools programme (part of Keep Britain Tidy). All schools can sign up to and join the Eco-schools programme and as part of this follow the BLUE Campaign. To find out more please visit the Schools page on the BLUE Campaign website
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