Bug hunting fun at Cortis Avenue garden open day

The garden open day on Saturday saw a total of 36 visitors, including ten children.

Cortis Avenue Wildlife Garden is a voluntary organisation, licensed by Worthing Homes to manage the site, which is off Carnegie Road in Worthing.

Nathalie Hadjifotiou, secretary, said: “We were open from 1pm to 4pm and had visits from both local residents and from other parts of the town.

“They enjoyed the bug hunting and also looking out for butterflies. We saw meadow brown, small copper, large white, gatekeeper, red admiral and peacock.

“Altogether, the weather stayed kind, just, and it was a very good afternoon.”

Brain Day, who leads butterfly walks, was on hand to talk with visitors about garden plants that attract butterflies and feed their caterpillars.

Barbara Shaw from Sussex Wildlife Trust was also there to support the bug hunts.

Slow worms, frogs, grasshoppers, butterflies and bees are just some of the creatures that thrive in the hidden garden’s grassland, flower meadow, orchard, herb garden and edible hedgerow.

Merry Curd and Richard Battson set up their Hedgehog Corner to advise visitors on how to make their gardens hedgehog friendly.

The project, which started in October 2010, gives volunteers the chance to learn new skills, meet new people and socialise in a friendly informal setting.

There is another open Saturday on September 30, from 1pm to 4pm and there are volunteers there most Wednesday mornings between 10am and 12.30pm.

Email [email protected] or phone Nathalie on 01903 530780 for more information.

The garden is part of the Community Greenspace Network, which was set up to help people in Worthing to get together to look after and enjoy places for people and wildlife around the town, from coast to Downs, gardens, schools, parks and more.

A council spokesman said: “There are lots of urban green spaces in Worthing where community interest groups and volunteers garden, do conservation work and make the place more beautiful and enjoyable for everyone.

“The Community Green-spaces Scheme celebrates these and invites residents and businesses to join in with an existing group or start a new one at a site made available by Worthing Borough Council.”

A Community Greenspaces leaflet is available or visit www.adur-worthing.gov.uk for more information.

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