John Keenan

Around 70 families from St Mark’s CofE School attended a Family Information Day in Whitehawk, Brighton. Organized by community and schools development worker Hannah Barker, the event connected families with local services including libraries, emergency services, Scouts and family support organizations. Activities, quizzes and sticker collections were used to make advice on healthy eating, special-ne needs support, drug abuse and library membership engaging for children and parents.

Brighton & Hove City Council has created 40 allotment plots on Whitehawk Hill and 60 at nearby Craven Vale to meet growing demand. Environmental campaigner David Bangs argues that clearing vegetation on Whitehawk Hill has damaged a local nature reserve and harmed wildlife, including great green bush-crickets and several bird species. He says sites such as Hangleton Bottom and Ovingdean would have been more suitable. The council says it consulted local residents, allotment and community groups, archaeological representatives and its ecologist, and has reintroduced sheep grazing to the hill.