This from yesterday’s Argus

By Michael Davies, local government reporter

A MAJOR conservation project on one of the longest “green walls” in the country is under way.

Work has started on the Madeira Drive retaining wall on Brighton seafront to protect more than 90 different species of coastal plants, which spread 20 metres high and 1.2 kilometres a bug the 200-year-old structure.

Brighton and Hove City Council has been working with the help of Brighton and Hove Building Green and the Ecology Consultancy to prune back the foliage and enlarge the bed at the foot of the wall.

Last year the green wall – which is on the north side of Duke’s Mound on Brighton seafront was designated as a local wildlife site by the city council.

Among the plants that will be protected by the works are the hoary stock, a coastal plant that is common on the south coast, cow parsley, which grows mostly through March and June, foxglove, which blooms in midsummer, and a fig tree and ferns.

One of the major features of the wall is a display of Japanese spindle, which was established in the 19th Century when the wall was first built, to help improve the appearance of the area.

It is believed to be among the oldest surviving species of that plant in the UK.

Work on the project, which will include health checks on the plants and repairing any damage to the concrete wall, got under way this week. It is hoped it will be completed before the next bird nesting season, which runs from March 1 to July 31.

It is not currently known how much the repairs will cost.

James Farrell, from Brighton and Hove Building Green, said: “The green wall is over 150 years old, supports 90 plant species, and is now the only Site of Nature Conservation Importance of its kind in the UK.

It forms a vital part of our natural and built heritage and has been under threat due to the deteriorating state of the East Cliff face.

The work that has started this week west of Duke’s Mound will safeguard the cliff face and green wall for the future.”

Councillor Ian Davey, deputy leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “The variety of plants grow- ing on the Madeira Drive retaining wall makes it one of the most important ‘green walls’ in the country.

The plants and the wall are part of the seafront environment that we want to protect, providing a haven for wildlife and a source of enduring interest for people.”

Building Green has been instrumental in the planning for the future of the unique green wall on the seafront at Madeira Drive.

Work begins today to maintain the plants, and safeguard the integrity of the cliff face.

We have been working with the Council and our partners the Ecology Consultancy.

Conservation work on one of the longest green walls in the country has begun this week on Brighton seafront to protect a huge variety of coastal plants and repair the concrete wall.

Over 90 different species are growing on the Madeira Drive retaining wall on the north side of Duke’s Mound to the east of Brighton seafront. Up to 20 metres high and 1.2 kilometres long on a wall nearly 200 years old, Brighton’s green wall is one of the oldest and longest in the country.

Brighton & Hove City Council is working with the guidance of Brighton and Hove Building Green and the Ecology Consultancy, pruning back foliage and enlarging the bed at the foot of the wall. This autumn the council will be carrying out repair work to the concrete wall itself to maintain the effectiveness of the wall and provide an ongoing habitat for plants and wildlife.

Last year the council designated the green wall a local wildlife site, ensuring its continued protection as the only site of its kind in the UK.

Councillor Ian Davey, deputy leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “The variety of plants growing on the Madeira Drive retaining wall makes it one of the most important ‘green walls’ in the country. The plants and the wall are part of the seafront environment that we want to protect, providing a haven for wildlife and a source of enduring interest for people.”

As well as an impressive display of Japanese spindle growing almost up to the upper promenade, the wall contains the nationally scarce hoary stock, a coastal plant most commonly found on the south coast, with its striking white to purple flowers in early summer and with exquisite fragrance.

There is an incredible diversity of plants, from cow parsley and foxglove, usually found alongside woodland, to a fig tree and a number of shade tolerant ferns.

The Japanese spindle was deliberately established in the early 19th century when the wall was built, as a means to improve the appearance of the seafront for visitors and local people. Originating from Japan, Korea and China, these hardy plants are amongst the oldest surviving plants of this species in the UK.

Work is being carried out now on a 400 metre stretch to avoid the bird nesting season.