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'Oasis of colour' planned for Eastbourne seafront

Josh McLaughlin
BBC News, South East
Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council Councillor Jim Murray poses for a photograph with landscape and garden designer Peter Thurman. Councillor Murray is wear a white, short-sleeved shirt featuring a design of yellow lemons on branches. Mr Thurman is wearing a navy gilet over a light blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves. They are standing in from of Eastbourne Carpet Gardens, blooming with pink plants. The sky is clear blue and Eastbourne Pier is visible in the background.Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council
Councillor Jim Murray (left) says residents have been asking for a more "sustainable approach to the gardens, as the plants are dug up twice a year and usually grown to order in the Netherlands"

Plans to restore Eastbourne's Carpet Gardens will begin on 12 May, 2025, with the aim of bringing greater biodiversity and removing invasive weed.

The garden will be divided into sections; one remaining planted with traditional, imported summer bedding plants and another seeing a new array, according to Lewes and Eastbourne Councils.

The work is expected to take six weeks and is lead by Sussex-based landscape and garden designer, Peter Thurman, who has worked at Kew Royal Botanic Gardens.

Councillor Jim Murray hopes the project will "protect this Eastbourne gem for generations to come" and provide an "oasis of colour".

Google This screenshot, taken from Google Maps, shows Eastbourne Carpet Gardens in the late summer of 2024. The beds are populated with red, white and pink flowers and the lawn appears freshly cut and slightly scorched by the sun. The sky is clear blue and Eastbourne Pier is visible in the background.Google
Opposite Eastbourne Pier, the Carpet Gardens have grown along the seafront for over 100 years

The new array, which Lewes and Eastbourne Councils say can "withstand the warmer and drier climate", aims to provide a year-round display for visitors and wildlife.

Each section will be planted side-by-side, allowing residents and tourists to compare styles and give feedback to direct the future planting of the gardens.

The current bedding scheme has been in place for over 100 years, but has recently become overrun with an invasive, foreign weed called Oxalis latifolia.

The weed and contaminated soil will be removed without using harmful chemicals, according to Lewes and Eastbourne Councils.

'We want to hear from residents'

Councillor Jim Murray says he is excited for the showcase once the renovations have been complete.

"We want to make sure that whether it's sustainable planting, the summer bedding, or a mix of both, we listen to the views of residents when planning," he said.

Gareth Jones, a trustee at Treebourne, says "naturalistic planting" has multiple benefits.

"[It] supports pollinators, conserves water and enriches soil health," Mr Jones added.

The design of the planned design of the flowers is meant to reflect the wave formations of the beach below, according to Mr Thurman.

"All the plants will withstand the harsh salt-laden winds and dry conditions that occur along the coast, and many provide nectar for insects and seeds for birds," Mr Thurman said.

Local primary schools are also expected to be invited to join the project by visiting the team on site; learning how gardening is affected by climate change.

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