The Beach Garden
What is the "beach garden" and where is it located?
The "beach garden" is a specific area on the shingle beach in Sidmouth, in front of the Belmont Hotel. It is an area where a significant amount of vegetation grows, despite the challenging conditions of the shingle beach. It is intended as a haven for nature, specifically for rare and endangered plant species that can survive in this harsh environment.
Why was the Sidmouth Beach Garden created?
The initiative to create the Sidmouth Beach Garden began around 2012 or 2013, set up by volunteers from Sidmouth In Bloom with support from the Devon Plant Heritage Group. The primary goals were to protect the existing beach plant community and to enhance it by reintroducing specialist plants, often halophytes (salt plants), that were no longer present in the area.
What makes life difficult for plants on a shingle beach, and how do plants in the beach garden cope?
Life on a shingle beach is tough for plants due to a combination of factors: unstable and moving ground, lack of fresh water, poor nutrient content, intense sun, storms, high salt concentrations, and high foot traffic from beach users. The plants in the beach garden are adapted to these harsh conditions. They have adaptations such as deep roots for stability and accessing water, and leathery or waxy leaves which help reduce water loss, often giving them a bluish tinge.
What are the specific reasons why plants are able to grow in the beach garden area compared to other parts of the shingle beach?
The beach garden area is unique on the shingle beach from Peak Hill to Salcombe Mouth for several reasons. It is located high on the beach, away from regular high water levels and tidal actions, which minimises the effects of saline water and helps keep the shingle relatively stable. Additionally, the outflow from the stream running down Glen Goyle provides a source of fresh water to plants with long tap roots. At this location, the shingle cover is also relatively thin, allowing plants with long tap roots to fix into the underlying terrain for stability. Finally, being further from the water's edge means this area is less frequently used by beachgoers.
Have there been any challenges in maintaining the beach garden since its establishment?
Yes, the beach garden has experienced challenges, including storm damage since it was established. Volunteers have worked hard to restore it. Ongoing maintenance is also required to manage unwanted wildflowers that can crowd out the valued plants. More robust native plants like Sea Beet have come to dominate, and nuisance invaders such as Three-Cornered Garlic have become established.
What types of plants are found in the beach garden?
The beach garden contains plants that are naturally adapted to the challenging shingle and salty conditions. Many of these species are nationally scarce. The area aims to protect these existing species and has been enhanced by reintroducing specialist halophyte species that had been lost over time.
Is there universal support for the beach garden, or are there opposing views?
While there is obvious support for the beach garden, demonstrated by the number of volunteers who help care for it, it is not universally liked. Some local people consider it an eyesore and believe it will deter visitors. Others express concerns about rats, although the sources clarify that the rats live in the culvert where the stream runs, not in the beach garden itself.
How is the significance and value of the beach garden being communicated to visitors?