Projects and Objectives

Going Greener and Re- Wilding are projects , building on the ideas started by volunteers working on our Selby Meadow Community Space ten years ago.

We aim to be 80% plastic Free and by Re-Wilding the bordering Wildlife corridor and Meadow grounds by planting lost native hedgerows and plants to provide food, shelter and a natural balance in both areas along with providing insect and amphibian habitats , bird and bat boxes , houses for hedgehogs plus safe environments for our badgers , foxes and small mammals we aim to have a healthy ecosystem for all.

Funding is always a challenge and we rely on the kindness of volunteers for their time and talents and resourcefulness in recycling and upcycling for many of what you find in Selby Meadow today.
However over the years New Town Action Group have been successful in securing funding via grants and donations helping them to concentrate on certain aspects of the area, making improvements for both community members and its Wildlife. New volunteer members and contributors towards these projects are always welcome , meet our committee members and find contact details below.

Action in rural Sussex

grants were obtained

to start regeneration of the site

supplying funds for plants, storage, trees and forest school facilities

https://www.ruralsussex.org.uk

Tesco Stronger Starts Groundwork Grant

Selby Meadow was successful in being chosen for the Tescos Community Scheme

Tokens were awarded from shoppers in their local Tescos stores resulting in funding being generated via a grant scheme Groundwork's ,

towards Selby Meadows Going Greener and Re- Wilding projects

https://tescostrongerstarts.org.uk

Local Charity Donations and Support

The Uckfield Lions and Bonfire Society have been supporters of NAG projects over the years and donated funding has been devided between both community gardens supported by the volunteer group . Private donations have also been received and we are whole heartedly grateful for all funds received.

The men's shed of Framfield made our Much loved Mud Kitchen

And The Chestnut Fund donated us monies to support planting of native hedgerows and trees along with whips supplied from The Woodland Trust

these are but a few who over the years has contributed in someway towards our projects and The Builders of Persimmons Homes for our lovely addition of Cricket seat, totem pole and Finger maze in our Sensory kiddies garden all adding to the forest school experience

apologies to those not mentioned but you know who you are and we are for ever grateful.

contact our treasurer about donations

Nagtreasurer2025@gmail.com

Meet our committee

Colin Brinkhurst Chair

Colin was voted in as chairperson at our 2025 AGM. He has been part of NAG for many years and has always been a hands on member or the team , he grew up gardening with his father and now a Bee keeper so the ecosystem and natural environment is close to his heart.

His position of chair is a challenging one but Colins gentle personality but quick whit gets him through.

Chris Goff Treasurer

Chris took the Treasurer position in January 2025 and since has become a hugely valued member of the group. He is a keen gardener along with his wife Julie having an allotment in The Bird -in -Eye plot of Uckfield and lives in the New town area.
His head for figures makes him the perfect fit for treasurer.

Kim Scott Secretary

Kim became secretary of NAG in 2024.

Her mother Velda Reed was one of the founders of Selby Meadow and the setting up of New Town Action Group. Her childhood family home backs onto the grounds so has been connected to the group and the Meadow for many years.

Working Together

Wildlife Habitats

With the help of funding we have introduced a number of wildlife habitats above shows just one of our Hedgehog homes that we added to our wildlife corridor. Hedgehogs used to be seen often in this area but sadly this is no longer the case, by providing shelter we hope to entice some new prickly members back to the neighbourhood. Funding was raised from the Tescos Stronger Starts Groundwork Grant.

Bat Boxes, Bird Boxes, Toad Abode, Bug Hotels can all be found as part of our

Re-Wilding along with stick and branch piles , less obvious but just as cosy to some creepy crawlies.

Nature and Wildlife is the foundation of Selby Meadow , everything we do is trying to balance the eco system and offer all creatures , big or small a safe place to call home.

Raised Beds / Herbs and Veg

Raised beds have been introduced to the Meadow offering planting for herbs and edible fruits and veg at a convenient height for people to pick from but also practical reasons of keeping away from Dogs, Badgers and Foxes from damaging and foaling on the plants. Funding for the above was part of the grant received from our Tescos Stronger Starts Groundwork project Going Greener.

We also have raised beds in our Kiddies area of the Meadow. Sensory plants, Touch, Sight, Smell,Taste and Sounds are all represented by the mix of some edible some not , herbs, flowers, grasses and fruiting plants all mixed and ready to discover at child friendly height.

Garden Gathers

If it’s painting gnomes or planting trees we try to hold garden gathers throughout the drier months, where everyone is invited to join in an activity for a couple of hours. The objective of the gathers is connecting with the community as well as improving the Meadow in some way.

The tasks set can be varied and nobody has to be knowledgable or experienced in what the tasks are. Quite usually plenty of home made cake and cups of tea help the time pass quickly along with plenty of chatting and catching up.

Sow A Meadow

We dedicate an area to establishing a Wild Meadow with mixed results to date mainly due to the unusually dry spells of weather we have been experiencing over the past couple of years.We have tried various methods, some succeed and some fail but we will continue with this project as every year we have wins as well as losses and that’s all part of gardening. Pollinators mainly benefit from our efforts and we have future plans in place to introduce irrigation to the meadow and this is what seems to be our biggest hurdle to date. If you can help us with this or any of our projects please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.

Nag Contacts

New Town Action Group have a Chairperson Treasurer and Secretary

Chairperson Mr Colin Brinkhurst contact email nagchair2025@outlook.com

Treasurer Mr Christopher Goff contact email Nagtreasurer2025@gmail.com

Secretary Mrs Kim Scott contact email nagsecretary2024@outlook.com