23/10/2026
Did you know that the Sussex coastline is home to one of the UK's rarest habitats? Vegetated shingle is a unique coastal environment that supports a wide variety of wildlife, including important pollinators, specialised insects and coastal birds.
Vegetated shingle plants are perfectly adapted to our coastal conditions. They thrive in poor, free-draining soils, cope well with sea spray and strong winds, and require very little maintenance once established. Many species are also highly attractive to pollinators, making them a great choice for wildlife-friendly gardening.
As our climate changes, choosing resilient, drought-tolerant plants is becoming increasingly important. Vegetated shingle planting offers a sustainable way to support local biodiversity while creating an attractive and distinctive garden feature inspired by our beautiful coastline.
The front beds at the Lewes District Council Marine Workshop office, Newhaven, showcase coastal vegetated shingle inspired planting. The design uses native species to support biodiversity and raise community awareness.
Many properties on our coastal strip have the right conditions to enable this planting style to flurish. So we've created a handy step-by-step guide explaining how residents can recreate a small part of this valuable habitat in their own gardens and community spaces. From preparing the ground and selecting the right growing medium to planting and adding shingle. It also highlights a range of iconic coastal plants that can be used, including sea kale, sea thrift, sea campion, sea holly and viper's bugloss.
Residents interested in trying this nature-friendly planting style can download the leaflet and follow the practical guidance to get started: Go to ourwebsite and search 'Biodiversity', you will find the downloadable PDF about half way down under the heading 'Creating coastal and sustainable gardens'. Happy reading!
