Notice Board – Friends of Stokes Bay

Wildflower Meadow

Seeding of the wildflower meadow is now complete. Please avoid disturbing the area.

It has been sown with native British wildflower seed, the beginning of a perennial meadow. These flowers will take up to three years to become fully established; they are long term residents and, although they don’t bloom in the same year that they are planted, they have a lasting presence. During their initial year, they focus on developing robust roots and foliage. They undergo a cyclical pattern, dying back in the winter and regenerating from the same roots year after year. In the second and third year more species will appear. To add some colour this year, some annual wildflowers have been included with the seed mix. They do not appear in subsequent years but the space that they occupied will create room for the perennial flowers.

There is some maintenance to do during the year and if you would like to help please contact us: secretary@friendsofstokesbay.co.uk. The garden will incorporate a bench and a bug hotel and we are hoping to encourage local children to assist with the next stage.

Litter Pick Dates for 2025

25th January – 29th March – 28th June – 13th September – 1st November

Browndown Access

Petanque

The two petanque pitches in front of the Pebble Beach Café are for public use – just bring your own boules. The play area is maintained by the Friends of Stokes Bay. Several of us enjoy meeting generally on a Wednesday morning at 11.00am; just turn up or email the secretary if you wish to be added to our WhatsApp group. Or maybe form a group of your own?

Diving Museum at No 2 Battery

In July 2024 the National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded £802,000 which will enable the museum to deliver an improved museum throughout the whole building following the repair project with reopening scheduled for July 2025.

D-Day Memorial

Planning permission has been granted for the erection of a semi-circular war memorial garden in the location of the existing Mulberry Harbour memorial on the promenade to the east of the Stokes Bay Sailing Club. The proposed plan will incorporate a flagpole, hard and soft landscaping as well as the relocation of the Canadian Memorial.

Works at Fort Gilkicker

Photographs below show this beautiful Victorian structure, now exposed by the removal of the earth bank.

The last two photographs looking east before and after the “bank” that has been created with earth from the fort.