A covered botanic garden for Garden Town Hastings?
Alexander Wilberforce argues the case for a covered botanical garden to commemorate Marianne North and provide a sheltered attraction for both tourists and locals.

Hastings has an important place in British botanical history, as the birthplace of Marianne North, the intrepid Victorian plant illustrator – much admired by Charles Darwin – whose work is displayed in the Marianne North Gallery at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Alexandra Park with its nationally important tree collection also dates back 170 years to the 1850s.

However, the location of Hastings on the English Channel also brings frequent bad weather – and high winds, meaning that even if the sun is out, it is difficult to enjoy the beach. Like other coastal towns, tourism is seasonal, effectively closing down for the Winter months. While the number of attractions is increasing with the expansion of Source Park and the redevelopment of the Observer Building, there is room for more.

A covered botanic garden would provide a fun, family-orientated all weather educational resource for local residents as well as visitors – and a stunning café, bookshop and event/wedding venue. This would build on increasing environmental awareness locally – and potentially link with many organisations in and around Hastings such as the Museum and East Sussex College. It would also fulfil the sustainability and green employment aims of Hastings Borough Council and the Town Deal and showcase the best of local produce.

The natural location would be the Lookout at White Rock, opposite the Pier. Indeed, the White Rock Area regeneration Masterplan of 2017 already alludes (p.37) to “greenhouses” and “Winter Gardens” – and improved access from a pedestrianised Schwerte Way. This would provide a magnificent site with its own microclimate overlooking the sea.

While a glasshouse dedicated to Marianne North and her pioneering work could be a focal point, there are other themes that could be explored such as plants commonly found in our daily lives or in coastal locations – and the impact of global warming and deforestation – as well as strategies to counter these. A playground would provide an attraction for younger visitors.

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