How can you support us in protecting St. Helen’s Woods?

STOP PRESS ***PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT – Thursday 24th April – more details HERE.***

PLANNING APPLICATION FOR A NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ON THE RIDGE EXPECTED SOON…PLEASE STAY POSTED FOR UPDATES – JOIN OUR MAILING LIST HERE 

As you may know, a proposal has been put forward to build 80 houses on the green space between St. Helen’s Woods and The Ridge, at Sandrock Hall Bends. This land, which has long been a sanctuary for wildlife, now faces the threat of destruction. What’s at stake is not just a beautiful landscape, but an entire ecosystem that plays a vital role in supporting countless species.
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The proposed development is not simply about new homes—it is the destruction of the last remaining green corridor that links St. Helen’s Woods with the wider countryside. This area has connected Hastings to the High Weald for over 1500 years. It’s the meeting point of two Roman roads which were predated by ancient trackways. This corridor is essential for the survival of many species: from bats and birds to small mammals and deer, all of whom rely on this land for shelter, food, and safe passage. To destroy it would sever their connection to the habitats they depend on, with far-reaching consequences. We risk a loss of biodiversity, increased flooding, and accelerated erosion—devastating forces we are already struggling to manage. Read more about it HERE.

We are at a critical moment. The developers are preparing to submit an outline planning application (April 2025) followed by a full request for permission. Please stay tuned and we will be publishing information about this here and on our newsletter which you can sign up to HERE.

Can you offer support in terms of ecological expertise, social media, PR, planning…or anything else? We’d love to hear from you. Please contact the society HERE.

A wider group of local residents who are considering not just the ecological impact of the development, but also the infrastructure, wider flooding and traffic issues, can be contacted via savesandrockbends@gmail.com

THANK YOU!