madeira terraces

Now the real work begins…major milestone reached as Madeira Terrace invitation to tender released
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Now the real work begins…major milestone reached as Madeira Terrace invitation to tender released

This week sees a major milestone reached, as Brighton & Hove City Council releases the invitation to tender for the regeneration of Madeira Terrace.

The Council said:

We expect to receive responses in February 2024 and, subject to receiving satisfactory bids within the budget, will appoint the contractors in spring.

As well as restoring 28 arches and bays, subject to acceptable bids we expect that Phase 1 will also include:

  • A new lift – a key component for the scheme that will ensure access for all
  • Full replacement of the upper deck with a waterproofed deck, infrastructure for canopies / shades and for pop-up events
  • Painting with a system guaranteed to perform better in coastal conditions than traditional materials available to the Victorians
  • Refacing and regreening the Green Wall where possible, although much of this will take time to recolonise as the current wall has been there for 150 years and is older than the Terrace itself
  • A new staircase down from the deck next to Concorde 2 / Shelter Hall
  • Reinstatement of the planted verges at Madeira Drive level
  • A more pedestrian friendly layout in front of the Terrace, providing beach access for all, and
    Seating to the upper and lower decks encouraging people to sit and enjoy the views

Members of Building Green have worked with the Council and partners for more than a decade to reach this point. We feel that the green wall is now firmly established in the vision for Madeira Drive – and look forward to seeing who comes forwards to make this vision a reality.

Now the real work begins…planning permission has been granted for restoring Madeira Terrace and the green wall!
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Now the real work begins…planning permission has been granted for restoring Madeira Terrace and the green wall!

A milestone was reached yesterday – permission to begin the first phase of restoration of Madeira Terrace.

The Terrace has been closed for 10 years. Building Green has been working on the protection of the Green Wall behind the Terrace since 2008. Getting planning permission has been a huge amount of work by a lot of people. Not easy, not always popular, but we can now move on to making things happen on the ground!

The restoration of the terrace, which has been an iconic part of Brighton’s seafront since the 1890s, will be undertaken in phases. Phase 1 consists of the 40 arches between the Royal Crescent Steps in the west and Shelter Hall – the Concorde 2 venue – in the east.

https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/news/2022/madeira-terrace-phase-1-given-planning-permission

Building Green is particularly proud of securing improvements to the natural environment along Madeira Drive as part of this work – and how they will be integrated into the heritage and built architecture of the seafront. Truly nature at the heart of a community.

Local interest groups and experts, including local Green Wall support group, Building Green, have helped advise on the best methods to protect, transplant and re-populate the wall. A key consideration has been ensuring the longevity of the concrete-faced East Cliff, which supports the deck – without which there would be no green wall. Certain species found in the original surveys, such as sycamore, would destroy the wall over time so cannot be retained. The 40 arches in Phase 1 are in front of the most flourishing section of the Green Wall currently. The biggest gains in biodiversity will come in subsequent phases of the restoration covering the remaining 111 arches.

Now let’s get behind everyone involved, and see our vision come to life!

New signboards showing the plans afoot to save Madeira Terrace and the green wall
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New signboards showing the plans afoot to save Madeira Terrace and the green wall

The Council have erected new signboards on Marine Parade and Madeira Drive, to show the plans to regenerate the Terrace and green wall.

More info on the planning application and how to comment is here: https://building-green.org.uk/2022/09/01/planning-application-finally-lands-for-madeira-terrace-and-green-wall-restoration-have-your-say/

Madeira Drive green wall update and what needs to be done next
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Madeira Drive green wall update and what needs to be done next

The news of the cutting of the green wall has spread far and wide.

There have been multiple stories on The Argus, Brighton & Hove Independent, More Radio and BBC Sussex.

Most striking has been the outpouring of local concern and sadness at how the work was completed, an apology from The Council, and a memorial event yesterday (involving a minute’s silence and a wreath laying) organised by local people and members of Madeira Drive campaign groups.

Meanwhile, Building Green volunteers have replanted a section of the wall on Duke’s Mound, as part of our long term project to restore the wall to its former length.

Building Green awaits the report of what happened exactly, so we can ensure that all parties learn from this for the future.

However we do know that the cutting included a very large fig, several stools of Japanese spindle planted in 1872, and the removal of large specimens of Spanish gorse and Darwin’s barberry. A number of ferns have been exposed and died. This section of wall was used by dunnock, wren and blackbird.

We know from our coppicing trials elsewhere on the green wall, and from recent work in partnership with the Council to protect or translocate older plants, that with the right care and attention it can regrow. There are some signs this is already happening.

However, regular cutting back and trimming would have avoided this situation from developing in the first place. So, as next steps, we will be encouraging the Council to work with us and local people to:

  • tidy and care for this section of wall now, with feeding, to maximise regrowth
  • establish a management plan for the whole green wall
  • set up budget and resources for regular maintenance, to ensure public access and safety along the pavement, optimum conditions for wildlife, and long term health of the green wall
  • incorporate the full linear extent of the green wall into the ‘MT30’ project, which is looking at the restoration of Madeira Terrace.
News on Madeira Drive green wall – recent loss, new planting and a change of scope
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News on Madeira Drive green wall – recent loss, new planting and a change of scope

A few recent happenings on Madeira Drive Green Wall – our natural backdrop to the eastern seafront.

1 – Recent loss of historic section of green wall

Building Green was saddened by recent action on 12 March to cut down a section of historic green wall next to the Volks workshop. Originally planted in 1872, approximately 6-8 Japanese spindle plants were cut, along with a large fig tree that was popular with local people. There was no prior notice or communication with Building Green.

This section of wall is part of the recently declared Local Wildlife Site – the only one of its kind in the UK.

The Council are commissioning a report into what happened, but the work is believed to have been a miscommunication relating to the creation of the new cycleway along Madeira Drive.

Building Green are hoping the spindle will grow back – our trials of copping these plants elsewhere along the green wall shows that they can regenerate, so we remain optimistic.

2 – Joining up the whole green wall with the MT30 project

Building Green is looking to prevent further miscommunication and ensure that the entire historic length of the green wall is considered as part of the regeneration of Madeira Drive.

As such we were pleased to have agreement from the Madeira Terraces MT30 project that the full length of green wall – east to the top of Duke’s Mound – will be included in the MT30 project.

3 – New planting at Duke’s Mound

Building Green has been unable to conduct any volunteer maintenance of the Duke’s Mound stretch of green wall during the pandemic.

However, Building Green’s Treasurer & Son have been quietly growing cuttings of Japanese spindle and will be planting these out in a recently re-surfaced section of the East cliff.

We are proud to see this volunteer action underway – as part of restoring the original extent of the green wall.

Clearing a recently resurfaced section of green wall ready for planting Japanese spindle

Good news – Madeira Terrace regraded to II*
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Good news – Madeira Terrace regraded to II*

Heritage England have regraded Madeira Terrace as a II* structure.

The nerds amongst you will enjoy reading the citation. A few headlines for others:

  • This designation is deserved by ‘particularly important buildings of more than special interest’
  • There is no other building like it in the English historic record (closest is a Victorian pier)I
  • It’s ‘monolithic’ form is considered very rare of possibly uniqueI
  • It is thought to be the longest cast iron structure in England and possibly the world.

The Madeira Drive green wall gets a special mention:

“Earlier, between 1830 and 1833, the natural East Cliff at Brighton was made good by the application of a concrete covering, and was then planted up to achieve a green wall which is now believed to be the oldest and largest of its kind in Europe, with over 100 species of flowering plants recorded.”

Now to save it…

(Painting by Vincent Donlin)

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New community container in place for Madeira Terrace pilot restoration

Great to see the green wall featuring alongside the precious Madeira Terrace in the artwork on the new community container.

The container contains an office and other facilities for local community groups to use. Building Green will be!

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Artwork features Japanese Spindle – the main feature of the Madeira Drive Green Wall, these plants are now almost 150 years old. It also features hoary stock – one of the rarest native plants that has been found along the green wall. Hoary stock has another name…’Hopes’. Seems apt!

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Unfortunately we couldn’t raise the funds to green the container itself…a green roof, or some living walls would have been even better. To see what’s possible with a shipping container, go here and here.

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Restoration continues at oldest, longest green wall in the UK

Volunteers from the local community have been helping dig holes ready for more tree planting this week on Madeira Drive – the location of the oldest, longest green wall in the UK.

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The project is saving some 40 year old ‘Japanese spindle’ plants, and giving them a new home, as part of a wider vision to restore the green wall to its former glory. The plants have been coppiced – cut back hard – but should grow and one day could be as tall as their 140+ year old neighbours!

Volunteers included the first vegan design certified interior designers Materialise Interiors.

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Volunteers save plants for country’s oldest ‘green’ wall

Filming/photo opportunities at Madeira Terrace green wall: Sunday, 30 September, 11am or Wednesday, 3 October, between 12 noon and 2pm. Please let Julie Harris Julie.harris@brighton-hove.gov.uk  and James Farrell know if you are interested in coming along.

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Happy Green Gymers after a hard morning’s work at Madeira Drive green wall

Work will begin next week to carefully transplant a group of Japanese spindle which has been growing in containers above Concorde 2 on Madeira Terrace for more than 35 years.

When they heard plants needed to be moved to enable repairs to the building, local community organisation Building Green got in touch offering to save the plants.

Japanese Spindle has been happily growing along Madeira Drive since the Victorians established a ‘green wall’ in the late 19th Century. It’s the oldest and longest of its kind in the country, and was designed to enhance the famous ironwork of Madeira Terrace.

James Farrell, founder of Building Green, said “We are working with the council to rescue some old Japanese spindle plants that need to be removed as part of structural improvement to the Concorde 2. The plants are a special feature of the Madeira Drive green wall, a ‘vertical garden’ which was established by the Victorians to enhance the seafront and Madeira Terrace.

“The green wall now contains more than 100 species of flowering plants, and is the longest and oldest of its kind in the country. The plants will be safely moved to a new home along the green wall at Duke’s Mound.”

Building Green has trialled coppicing (safely cutting from the base where the plants will regrow) on sections of the green wall and this technique will be used to transplant the spindles.

Councillor Alan Robins, lead member for tourism, development and culture, said: “We really appreciate the conservation being done by all the partners on this unique green wall. Thanks to them, as part of the work we are doing to maintain Concorde 2, the spindles will find a new home and won’t be lost. At 20 metres high and 1.2km long, the green wall is quite a feature and hosts an incredible diversity of plants and wildlife which is perhaps surprising in this exposed location.”

Volunteers from Building Green have been working with the council, Portslade Green Gym and other partners for several years to manage and restore this unique and important natural heritage.

It is thought the spindles being moved date back to the 1980s when they were planted in concrete troughs on the upper level of Madeira Terrace to improve the environment for visitors. The majority of spindle along the green wall is more than 140 years old and grows from ground level up and behind the walkway of the Terrace. It has glossy leaves and produces pink and orange berries.

Learning about green walls – Madeira Drive’s historic green wall