Hastings Botanic Garden

05/08/2026

See this week’s “Observer” newspaper for a full page feature (p. 41) on our recent Midsummer @ White Rock festival - and a photo on the front page. Thanks to their coverage - and for highlighting the winter garden heritage of White Rock Meadow.

30/07/2026

Wonderful coverage of our recent Festival in the "Hastings Observer":
https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/in-14-pictures-people-enjoy-free-midsummer-festival-in-hastings-8823367

Once again, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who came, the stallholders, performers and caterers - and to our collaborators across Falaise Road, Head on Board CIC and Active Hastings - and to those behind the scenes who worked so hard to bring it all together!

White Rock certainly came ALIVE!!

White Rock Gardens was the setting for a free Midsummer Festival on Saturday (July 25).

28/07/2026

Joe Fleming from Circadian Troupe performs a spirited rendition of “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes.

23/07/2026

TWO DAYS TILL MIDSUMMER @ WHITE ROCK FESTIVAL!!

See the below article for the impressive lineup of local artists, children's activities and community stalls (including a display by Hastings Museum and Art Gallery of local plant fossils).

FREE ENTRY!

Bring a picnic and enjoy the glorious sea views - or buy on site:-

Coffee from Milk & Side Hustle
Hot food from Khalid's
Ice creams from K&H Ices

See the latest news from Your World at https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/your-world

11/07/2026

Two weeks to go!! Marianne North Centre Hastings Ltd and Head on Board CIC are delighted to present an exciting programme of live music, performance, sport and community stalls - all in a stunning location above the English Channel!
Please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/midsummer-festival-tickets-1988070485339?aff=oddtdtcreator

04/07/2026

Meet our first model of a botanic garden - as we continue to plan a fitting tribute to Hastings born botanic artist, Marianne North, in her birthplace.

Assembled by the amazing Kristel of BrickznBitz on Robertson Street in Hastings, its design was inspired by Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York - with a central greenhouse area and a cafe and smaller indoor garden on each end, very similar in scale to our own thoughts.

Visitors to today’s glorious Market at the Museum responded with enthusiasm- “what a wonderful idea”, “I wish we could have a million in Hastings!”, “Wow! Now let’s build it!”. Many took photographs.

Our next steps are to continue developing long-term collaborations in and beyond Hastings, shortlist possible sites, commission a more detailed architectural concept and work on business plans to ensure financial viability.

Most important of all, we need your support!

Please visit our website to join our mailing list or offer a particular skill like event planning, PR or website design - www.hastingsbotanicgarden.org.uk

04/07/2026

Meet our first model of a botanic garden - as we continue to plan a fitting tribute to Hastings born botanic artist, Marianne North, in her birthplace.

Assembled by the amazing Kristel of BrickznBitz on Robertson Street in Hastings, its design was inspired by Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York - with a central greenhouse area and a cafe and smaller indoor garden on each end, very similar in scale to our own thoughts.

Visitors to today’s glorious Market at the Museum responded with enthusiasm- “what a wonderful idea”, “I wish we could have a million in Hastings!”, “Wow! Now let’s build it!”. Many took photographs.

Our next steps are to continue developing long-term collaborations in and beyond Hastings, shortlist possible sites, commission a more detailed architectural concept and work on business plans to ensure financial viability.

Most important of all, we need your support!

Please visit our website to join our mailing list or offer a particular skill like event planning or website design - www.hastingsbotanicgarden.org.uk

24/06/2026

FESTIVAL LAUNCH!!

Midsummer @ White Rock 2026
Saturday, July 25th: 12-5pm
Disused Bowling Greens above Falaise Hall

An afternoon of sports, live music, arts & craft activities, community stalls and more, celebrating White Rock's past and future.

Free - but please register at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/midsummer-festival-tickets-1988070485339?aff=oddtdtcreator

With thanks to HBC, HVA, Isabel Blackman Foundation and Magdalen & Lasher Charity.

02/06/2026

On Sunday June 21st, discover an amazing array of female explorers from the past and present!

The festival is named after the Scottish photographer and traveller Isabella Bird (1831-1904), who shared much of the determination of her direct contemporary Marianne North (1830-1890) - becoming the first female member of the Royal Geographic Society (1892) and a member of the Royal Photographic Society (1897). Her travels ranged from Hawaii to the Rockies (where she was reputed to be “able to tame mountain men”), Japan (Ainu areas of Hokkaido), South East Asia, Kashmir and Iran.

Isabella Bird & Friends
21st June 2026
10-6pm
University of Westminster
Tube: Baker Street, London

Hosted by:-
Professor Pippa Catterall Professor of History and Policy
University of Westminster

Dr Jacki Hill-Murphy
Author: Adventuresses, Rediscovering Daring Voyages into the Unknown

Festival Programme

10.00 Arrival and coffee

10.20. A few words from the hosts

10.30 Film: ‘More than a Mountain’ introduced by Jo Bradshaw

11.00 Catherine Edsell, Rosemary Brown and Jo Bradshaw in
conversation with Pippa
Topic: Bravery, Fear and Loneliness

11.45 Coffee and silent film: Through Ethiopia - Peace and War,
1935-36 by Violet Cressey-Marcks

12.00 Alice Hunter Morrison and Q and A
‘Adventuring and Filming Sustainably’.

12.45. A poem by Hannah Edsell read by Catherine Edsell
12.50 Siffy Torkildson on pre-recorded video from Japan - Annie
Smith Peck

1.00. Lunch and browse

2.00. David Baker and the legacy of Lady Florence Baker

2.30. Elise Wortley to introduce her film: The Bride of Mont Blanc

3.00 Poem: The Call of the Amazon, written for Violet Cressy-
Marcks by Charles L Graves, 1928, read by Jacki

3.05 A Bird on a Yak 15 mins

3.20 Alexander Wilberforce to talk about the Marianne North Centre in Hastings

3.30. Coffee and browse

4.00. Discussion and Q and A with Alice and Elise
Topic: Do we compare to them?

4.55 Jacki to talk about her exhibition ‘The Female Gaze’

5.00 Claire Cope to introduce her album inspired by stories of
women explorers

5.10 Music, wine, nibbles and dance performed by Gabrielle (we hope!)

6.00 Close

30/05/2026

For tickets, scan QR code or follow this link:

https://store.westminster.ac.uk/product-catalogue/social-sciences-and-humanities/isabella-bird-and-friends/isabella-bird-and-friends