Riverside Park Community Voice - Newhaven

20/06/2026

Plants of the park #3 OX-EYE DAISY (Leucanthemum Vulgare)

Conservation status: common

The dog daisy, moon daisy or ox-eye daisy flowers May-Sept and frequently cheers the verges of Riverside Park.

Culpeper wrote that the ox-eye daisy has similar qualities to chamomile and can be infused to bring down fevers.

It is sometimes called the maudlin daisy, or maudlinwort, which is an abbreviation of St Mary Magdalene because the flower was also considered useful in soothing night sweats in (peri) menopausal women. It was originally dedicated to the goddess Artemis, but this pre-Christian deity was later replaced with a Christian saint.

❤️ The petal plucking game ‘He loves me; he loves me not’ is thought to have started with the Ox-eye daisy.

16/06/2026

Beautiful morning with stunning views

14/06/2026

Grass snake basking on Riverside Park🐍

12/06/2026

Plants of the Park #2 COMMON MALLOW (Malva Sylvestris)

Conservation status: common

A vigorous plant with showy mauve flowers.

The French word for mallow is ‘mauve’ which is where the word for the colour mauve comes from.

Leaves are useful in salads, can be eaten raw, and contain vitamin C and protein. In Morocco, leaves, known as ‘Bakola’, are braised as a side dish or used as a sauce over couscous.

🧀 The round seed pods, which follow flowering, are known as ‘cheeses’ and reportedly have a nutty flavour.

05/06/2026

Plants of the Park #1 VIPER'S BUGLOSS (Echium Bulgare)

Conservation status: Common

Viper’s bugloss has upright spikes of vivid blue flowers in dense clusters; hairy, spotted stems and narrow, pointed leaves.

It may have got it’s common name ‘Viper’ from its spotted stem, which is said to resemble a snake’s markings. Bugloss comes from the Greek meaning ‘Ox’s tongue’ and refers to the rough, tongue shaped leaves.

The plant root was used in ancient times to treat snake bites - according to the Doctrine of Signatures, plants were thought to have traits that mirrored the ailment they treated.

⚠️ Skin irritant - wear gloves if handling

29/04/2026

09/03/2026

Toads update: I’ve been in touch with froglife.org who have advised that numbers of 100+ toads need to be seen to set up an official toad patrol so not viable for this season.

They’ve suggested we start keeping an eye out for increased numbers in the New Year and get in touch with them again if we think the Valley Ponds site warrants official registering.

In the meantime, please keep an eye out for any stragglers between now and April 🐸👀

19/02/2026

Is anyone around who was a member of the Toad Patrol for Valley Ponds ?

Some may have noticed that some warning signs have gone up that Toads are crossing Valley Road into the pond.

Thank you to the member of public that alerted us to the fact. This is extremely exciting as we haven't seen any evidence over recent years. In the last few days around 20 frogs and/or toads have successfully made it to the Pond

If anyone is keen to help set up a toad patrol please let us know. Currently making enquiries on what we need to do

🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸

09/02/2026

Riverside Park is looking fresh after a litter pick at the weekend 👀

ESCC have fixed the ‘Ost’ bridge to Lewes Road too.

Happy days!

05/02/2026

13 years ago LDC sold the land that we now call Riverside Park for a quid- to a company with a fantastical plan to build a WaterPark.

The ‘pie in the sky’ plans never materialised and a Community campaign led to the establishment of Riverside Park and the re designation of incinerator public funds to put in the paths, sculptures, benches and bird hide.

The transfer of ownership from LDC to Newhaven Town Council will be a welcome end to this Chapter in the story of Riverside Park. The lengthy process is nearly complete.