We Dig Hastings!
A Community-Led Seafront Planting Project
Project Description
We Dig Hastings saw Transition Town Hastings, the local community and Great Dixter gardeners come together to test what can grow on the seafront in October 2025.
This exciting pilot planting initiative, guided by Fergus Garrett and the expert team at Great Dixter marks the beginning of a new climate-resilient garden on the seafront at Denmark Place. The project aims to trial a biodiversity-rich planting scheme designed especially for our harsh seaside conditions.
The findings from the trial planting will play a key role in helping to shape the wider landscape design for the town centre public realm project, testing future landscaping and biodiversity approaches.
The wider public realm transformation project includes planting, new accessible walking and cycling routes, and enhanced public spaces, is currently scheduled to start construction in Autumn 2026.
Below are some images and you can read more about the We Dig Hastings planting weekend here.
Watch the short introduction film below
The project was documented by local filmmaker Andrew Davies (Campaign Film). A short film now shares the energy of the weekend and explains the inspiration and thinking behind the planting and explores how the project aims to help create greener, more welcoming spaces across the town centre.
Three short clips will be shared, each highlighting different aspects of the initiative. These clips set the scene for the full film, showing how greener spaces could transform the town centre and enhance the experience for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Clip 3: The third and final video clip turns our attention to Sheffield’s inspiring Grey to Green scheme – and explore what its learnings could mean for Hastings town centre.
Clip 2: This video shows footage of the planting event with Great Dixter, Transition Town Hastings and the local community and explores how the project can inform planting in the town centre
Clip 1: This is video shows footage of the planting event with Great Dixter, Transition Town Hastings and the local community, on Hastings seafront.
How to get involved
For updates and to get involved with future initiatives, visit the Transition Town Hastings Facebook page (www.facebook.com/transitiontownhastings).