Following the success of the clearing of areas of the three cornered garlic in the Burrells area, two plant species have now returned to the areas once dominated by this invasive plant, FoSB has now turned its attention to the Red Valerian which proliferates on the beach.

It is attractive and colourful and in May and June provides a thrilling backdrop to the beach, however, it is a tall plant that shades smaller species and its seeds seem to propogate where they land meaning that the plant has, over the past 5 years, begun to dominate the flora of the beach.

Supported bt Adur Rangers and under advice from appropriate Botanical Authorities, FoSB has begun a monitored, selective thinning of this plant in a measured area of the LNR opposite Kings Walk.

Although this has been seen as a controversial step by some, resulting in lots of kneejerk reaction on Facebook, our plan is to thin and remove new plants from a 20m square area and monitor this to observe if existing smaller species thrive and if original species, lost due to the shadowing of the taller plant, return. If we can prove this is the case, then further areas will be selected for thinning and monitoring in order to maintain the variety of species on the beach.

FoSB has a role of guardian of the beach and if we are to see the variety of plants ( over 200 at the last survey) remain, then some management is essential to avoid overgrowth and loss of the more delicate species