Around the Town 

Established in 2013 on the shingle in front of the Belmont Hotel, the Beach Garden is a community-led initiative managed by volunteers. Its primary mission is to protect and enhance "halophytes"—specialist salt-tolerant plants that are naturally adapted to the harsh conditions of the shingle ridge.

Key Conservation Objectives

• Protecting Specialist Flora: The garden serves as a sanctuary for naturally occurring species such as Sea Beet, Rock Samphire, Tree Mallow, and the Yellow Horned Poppy.

• Reintroduction: Working with experts, the project reintroduces specialist beach plants grown from seeds sourced from other endangered coastal sites across the South West.

• Coastal Stabilisation: These hardy plants play a functional role by helping to stabilise the shingle ridge.

• Changing Perceptions: A major goal is to educate the public so they no longer view these hardy species as "weeds," but as nationally scarce and ecologically vital flora.

A Collaborative Effort

The success of the garden relies on a partnership between several local organisations:

Group Key Responsibility

Sidcombers (Sidmouth in Bloom) Physical management, weeding, and protecting the site from shifting shingle after winter storms.

Sid Valley Biodiversity Group (SVBG) Providing scientific support, organising seasonal tidy-ups, and creating educational interpretation boards.

Devon Plant Heritage Group Expert horticultural backing and sourcing seeds for reintroduction.

Local Government (EDDC) Formerly used weedkillers on the area but now supports conservation efforts and infrastructure (like the "old boat" feature).