EASTBOURNE’S iconic Carpet Gardens, one of the town’s most photographed landmarks, are undergoing a transformation which is due to complete in June.
The extensive renovation project, which began in mid-May, is part of an innovative initiative to modernise the gardens while ‘embracing sustainability and enhancing biodiversity’.
For more than a century, the Carpet Gardens have charmed visitors with their meticulously arranged summer bedding displays, filled with imported plants that burst into colour each spring and summer.
While visually stunning, this traditional planting scheme has come at a high environmental and financial cost, with the entire garden having to be replanted twice a year.
Now, a bold new vision is being trialled. The refreshed gardens will feature a dual-style planting showcase: one section will continue the long-standing tradition of vibrant summer bedding plants, while the adjacent section will debut a more sustainable, naturalistic approach.
This innovative side-by-side planting allows residents and visitors to compare the two styles and offer feedback on which they’d prefer to see adopted in future displays.
Leading the project is internationally recognised landscape designer Peter Thurman, a Sussex-based horticulturist with over 45 years of experience.
Thurman has designed gardens across the globe and is known for his environmentally conscious designs. He brings with him an illustrious background that includes teaching at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and lecturing at prestigious institutions like the Inchbald School of Design in London.
Thurman’s new design embraces the changing climate and the need for greater environmental responsibility. The plants chosen for the new section are predominantly perennials, capable of surviving Eastbourne’s increasingly warmer and drier coastal weather. These plants will provide year-round colour and texture, while also serving a vital ecological function by attracting pollinators and offering seeds for birds.
He said: “Eastbourne is blessed with a unique microclimate, and we’re embracing that opportunity to create something not just beautiful, but also resilient and beneficial to wildlife. This new design isn’t about replacing the old but evolving it to meet the challenges of today, and tomorrow.”
A significant feature of the project is the soil restoration. In recent years, the Carpet Gardens have been plagued by an invasive South American weed, Oxalis latifolia, which has compromised the health of the soil and plant life.
Instead of using harmful herbicides, the team is employing a non-chemical approach. The contaminated soil is being removed and replaced with a new, free-draining rooting medium. Soil levels are being raised by 20–30 centimetres, a technique that also helps suppress the invasive weed and support the long-term health of the new plantings.
Visitors to the gardens can expect to see a more naturalistic layout in the new section, with plants that grow and evolve through the seasons. While the traditional section will still burst with orderly rows of vibrant colours, the new design will offer shifting palettes and textures, a living tapestry that changes throughout the year.
Among the anticipated benefits of the updated design are: Floral and foliage interest in all seasons, plants adapted to coastal conditions, reduced water use and lower maintenance costs, improved soil health and carbon capture and increased support for insects, birds, and other wildlife
The project has already sparked interest among residents and environmental groups, many of whom see it as a positive step forward in balancing heritage with sustainability.
Eastbourne Borough Council has confirmed that public feedback will play a key role in deciding the long-term future of the gardens. Visitors will be encouraged to share their views on both the traditional and sustainable planting styles once the work is complete.
With its mix of historic charm and forward-thinking design, the revamped Carpet Gardens promise to remain a beloved feature of the Eastbourne seafront for years to come, according to the designers, offering not only a feast for the eyes but a haven for wildlife and a model of sustainable horticulture.
