Sovereign Park EarthCache EarthCache
Sovereign Park EarthCache
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Another Earth Cache for Sussex and a site of nature conservation importance!
A shingle beach is a beach which is armoured with pebbles or small to medium sized cobbles. Typically the stone composition may grade from characteristic sizes ranging from two to 200 mm in diameter.
While this beach landform is most commonly associated with Western Europe, examples are found in Bahrain, the United States and in a number of other world regions such as the east coast of New Zealand's South Island, where they are associated with the shingle fans of braided rivers.
The ecosystems formed by this unique association of rock and sand allow colonization by a variety of rare and endangered species.
Sovereign Park aims to preserve some of the shingle beach habitat that was once common along the south coast until the increase in urban development and other pressures.
The Park is an area of shingle located to the rear of the main beach, at the eastern end of Eastbourne, close to Langney Point. The park is designated as a SNCI (Site of Nature Conservation Importance) and displays a good range of shingle plants. The park is split into three fenced compartments, with public access being limited to the most westerly compartment, thereby helping to protect the species present. The site can reach up to 60m wide in some sections, and the beach matrix consists predominantly of pebbles, mixed with some gravel. The park displays a good range of shingle plants including Sea-kale
(Crambe maritima), Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara), Yellow Horned-poppy (Glaucium flavum), Viper’s-bugloss (Echium vulgare), Stonecrop (Sedum spp.), Curled Dock (Rumex crispus ssp. littoreus), Sea Campion (Silene uniflora), Toadflax (Linaria spp.), Sea Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. maritimus), Sheep’s Sorrel (Rumex acetosella), mosses and grasses, crustose, foliose and fruiticose lichens. Current floral species and distribution indicate the presence of a pioneer community
at the site. Other species include Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber), Gorse (Ulex europaeus), Common Ragwort
(Senecio jacobaea) and Brambles (Rubus spp.).
There is a picnic site equipped with tables at the west end of the Park. The central and east areas are left as semi-natural habitat and access is available but not encouraged due to trampling damage of the flora present. A refreshment kiosk is open at the east end during the season.
Parking on adjacent road or Sovereign Leisure Centre pay and display. Served by several nearby bus routes. Two and a half miles from Eastbourne railway station. National Cycle Network route 21 runs near the Park with a cycle path on the adjacent promenade. Wheelchair access along surfaced paths around the perimeter of the central shingle area. Toilets available (not sure of times) at the east end of the Park adjacent to the refreshment kiosk
To claim this cache you must answer the following question:-
1) What other types of land formation can you see from this part of Eastbourne?
2) What other type of stone can be found here and where did they come from?
3) What else found down here is important to Eastbourne residents?
And finally as per the Beachy Head earth cache please try and post a photo of you or your GPS visiting the cache to claim it! (Optional)
Enjoy!
WELL DONE to The Long Man Trackers for being the first one's to find this Earth cache!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur nafjref pna abg or sbhaq ba gur obneq fb ybbx sbe nebhaq sbe gur nafjref!