Rother District Council (RDC) has announced its intention to "dispose" of the former putting green land on the Salts.
The area next to Rye Bowls Club is approximately 2,600 square metres and follows the existing fencing around the former putting green (see photo above). The proposed new owner will be Rye Amenity Community Interest Company (CIC) who aim to turn the land into a "managed wildflower meadow" or "managed perennial meadow" on a 25-year lease.
The plan is that the meadow will be planted with 30 native species of grasses and wildflowers which will flower from early spring through to late autumn. It will be open to the public and will also contain areas for picnicking. The overriding aim is to "promote the advancement of environmental protection by improving plant diversity and insect/invertebrate/bird/mammal biodiversity; and enhance the urban environment of Rye throughout the seasons".
The Rye Amenity CIC conducted a public survey via social media in June 2018 asking visitors and locals for their views on creating the wildflower meadow. They said that the results of the survey demonstrated overwhelming support for the idea which in turn led to the creation of the Rye Wildflower Meadow Trust in July 2018. The Trust is currently an unregistered charity and is in the process of raising the funds required to create the meadow.
Rye Amenity CIC was incorporated in July 2011 with the "sole intention of providing services and improving amenities for the Parish of Rye". It currently holds a 25-year lease on Rye’s two allotment sites at South Undercliff and Love Lane. The lease was awarded by RDC in December 2013. The Rye Amenity CIC is at pains to stress that rental income from the allotments are ring-fenced and will not be used to subsidise the wildflower meadow.
If you have objections to their proposal then they must be made in writing to Neo Georghiou, Estates Surveyor, Town Hall, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN39 3JX by Friday June 7 quoting the reference B032/Town Salts.
An outline of the application can be found on Rother’s website here.
