Seafront Starts To Blossom

As the days start to warm up you'll see the appearance of green shoots among the pebbles and trees beginning to bud on the new Dover seafront esplanade. Planted last October, almost 2,750 plants are bursting into life, having established secure roots under the shingle.

The planting, an important aspect of the £2 million esplanade development which was part-funded by Dover Harbour Board, will see Norway Maple, Salt Cedar and Holm Oak trees framing the popular seafront. Twenty-seven varieties of coastal plants such as English Stonecrop, Sea Campion and Rock Sea Spurry will make the transformation complete.

Much like alpine varieties, coastal plants are often very small and grow close to the ground. They must be able to cope with strong winds, have the ability to retain moisture with long root systems and tolerate a large range of temperatures as well as enjoying a good dose of salt spray.

The choice of native British wildflowers will not only provide a splash of colour along the seafront but also supply food for butterfly and moth larvae.

Mike Krayenbrink, Director of Port Development said: "The seafront development has been years in the planning and it is great to see the finishing touches, which were planted last October, finally revealing themselves. This can only add to the local community's enjoyment of the esplanade and hopefully encourage visitors to linger a while longer in Dover."