This autumn we reached an exciting milestone for our National Lottery Heritage Fund supported Reinventing Borde Hill project, as we launched the first phase of our propagation initiative with a series of hands-on workshops with local schools. Designed to connect children and young people with the natural world, these sessions invited pupils to explore the South Park, collect seeds from native trees, and begin the journey of growing new plants that will be nurtured through the year and planted out in coming years.
Across October and November we welcomed four schools: Northlands Wood from Haywards Heath, Our Lady Queen of Heaven from Crawley, St Peter’s from Ardingly, and Woodlands Mead from Burgess Hill. Each group explored the Parkland and gathered seeds from a variety of native trees and shrubs, including hawthorn, blackthorn, wild service tree, guelder rose, and hornbeam. A particular highlight was collecting “helicopter” seeds from our iconic ancient field maple on the edge of Dinosaur Wood, which is a county champion tree. Along the way, children also learned to identify and understand the life cycles of other seeds such as acorns and chestnuts, deepening their appreciation for the diversity of plant species around them.
When shoots appear in the Spring, we will invite participating schools back to pot the seedlings on, giving pupils the chance to see how the seeds they gathered have grown. The young trees will then be planted out when more established and will contribute directly to our South Park planting strategy, supporting long-term efforts to boost biodiversity in the South Park by increasing and improving woodland habitats.
Alongside the schools programme, our Garden Team and dedicated volunteers will carry out a rare plants propagation project to support and protect Borde Hill’s nationally significant botanical collection. Our propagation work is a key element supporting our wider plans to expand outdoor learning and community engagement, and to improve biodiversity and protect our tree collection. The next exciting step for the Reinventing Borde Hill project will be the creation of our new Community Growing Garden in 2026, which will highlight the importance of biodynamic, locally grown produce and good horticultural practice, and enable community groups and individuals to connect with nature and learn new skills.
The seed collection workshops are a meaningful first step in our long-term vision, and we look forward to sharing more updates as the seeds – and the project – continue to grow.
