One Priory Square Hastings Cleared for Green Revival

The clearance work was carried out over four days by Cappagh Browne in partnership with Southern Water, following an introduction by Love Hastings, which leads a partnership of town centre businesses funded through the Business Improvement District levy.

“This project will create a biodiversity-rich green space where people can relax, connect with nature and enjoy an oasis in the middle of town,” said Sherry Clark of Transition Town Hastings.

“We were delighted to help bring Southern Water and Cappagh Browne together to enable a piece of council-owned wasteland in the middle of the town to be cleared for a really worthwhile community use,” added John Bownas, speaking on behalf of Love Hastings.

From Overgrown Plot to Clean Slate

Until recently, the site at 1 Priory Square was overgrown and strewn with debris, discarded materials and dense vegetation. In little more than three days, Cappagh Browne’s team brought in plant machinery, manual labour and transport to clear away the waste, level the ground and lay a membrane base topped with shingle. The result is a clean, level space – a blank canvas ready for the next stage of its transformation into a welcoming community garden.

Planting the Seeds of Change

Transition Town Hastings, the group behind the much-loved Warrior Square Station community garden, will lead the planting and design phase. Their vision is to transform the site into a vibrant, biodiverse garden filled with plants and wildlife, offering a unique community space that brings colour, life and nature into the heart of the town centre.

This initiative also reflects Hastings’ wider ambition to integrate more green, accessible areas into its urban landscape, improving the environment and the quality of life for those who live and work here.

A Community Effort in Bloom

The next stage will see the space prepared for planting and design, with the aim of turning it into a place for people to enjoy and connect with nature. As the vision develops, there is potential for the wider community to play a part in shaping how the garden evolves, helping to ensure it reflects the spirit of Hastings. With pollinator-friendly planting, improved urban biodiversity and a shared sense of pride in the result, the transformation of 1 Priory Square will stand as a powerful example of what can be achieved when public, private and community sectors come together with a common goal.