Riverside Park Newhaven

Monday 21st March 2016Wednesday 7th September 2016

This is Riverside Park, Newhaven. Its on the west side of Denton Island. Its a great local park. In early spring and winter its full of the striking silhouettes of seedheads- teasels burrs and reeds along with wonderful catkins and pussy willow.

I am delighted to be working here on some public art entrance features. These photographs are part of my getting to know the site, capturing the essence of the site and what is special about it.

The park is surrounded by an extraordinary industrial landscape of scrap heaps, railways and power plants. This creates a very unusual soundscape of heavy thuds and clangs from the scrap yard, a gentle hiss from the incinerator and bird song.

Beautiful purple brambles. Should be very good pickings in the summer

Dancing reeds are everywhere. These photos were taken just as the park is emerging from winter. The winter landscape is very “scratchy” and etched. Silhouettes are a very important feature.

Lots of new tree planting. Including this bizarre candelabra tree

Lovely brown Pussy Willow right by the main path. The winter landscape is all wonderful rusty browns with golden reeds.

It really is Teasel city round here. Thousands of them. They provide a great food source for birds, especially goldfinches.

They appear to have a glowing halo in the sun.

A large amount of conservation work is being carried out. The scrub is being managed to provide a good mix of habitats. This is near the northern end of the site. The new Egrets Way footpath and cycleway to Lewes will join the park here.

There she is -unavoidable giant woodlouse. The very controversial incinerator or energy recovery facility. Personally I find the architecture of this very exciting. There is lots of exciting things happening in Newhaven these days. A new deepwater port is being developed at the river mouth (once the newts have been moved). This is for vessels constructing the offshore Rampion wind farm.

Riverside park has been created on a former household waste site. In some places where the numerous rabbits have dug deep enough, they are shovelling out some interesting rubbish!