Project Brighton

First Base Brighton Elms Project

Developer First Base, has partnered with The Friends of Pavilion Gardens Café, The University of Brighton, The Brighton & Lewes Downs UNESCO World Biosphere Region and VisitBrighton, to create a unique new illustrated visitor map for Brighton dedicated to its National Elm Collection.

First Base has commissioned three design students from Brighton University to create the maps. Illustration student Gustav Freij and Graphic Design students Jessica Keene and Jennifer Whitworth, who have spent the last few months working on the Elm maps, which will feature beautifully drawn illustrations designed to educate and inform visitors about the National Collection.

First Base has commissioned three design students from Brighton University to create the maps

The students explained: “It has been a fantastic experience to work on this project with the Pavilion Garden Cafe and VisitBrighton. Not only has it given us the opportunity to work on a live project, but it’s also a great cause: which is to protect and preserve Brighton’s historic Elm tree collection. We’ve learnt a great deal both about our discipline and the wildlife within Brighton, and we are grateful for being given this chance to design for our local community.”

Eeva Paasiaro, Development Manager for First Base said, “We are pleased to partner up with Friends of Pavilion Gardens Café, The University of Brighton, The Brighton and Lewes Downs UNESCO World Biosphere Region and Visit Brighton on this project.

“The importance of Elm trees in Brighton and Hove should be understood by all. That is why we will bring as many new Elm trees as possible to our Anston House site and encourage local residents and visitors to learn more about them and their history in this city via this newly created map.”

Gavin Ambrose, Senior Lecturer, Graphic Design, University of Brighton said, “The project is an ideal combination of design experience for our students and an opportunity to make a significant cultural and environmental impact on the community by encouraging and fostering an interest in our rich living resource.”

David Sewell from Friends of Pavilion Gardens said: “Elms in Brighton & Hove are part of the National Collection and it is really important they get the recognition they deserve. If this map can help in any small way that will be good.”

The most notable collection of Elms is in Preston Park, home of the ‘Preston Twins’, the largest and oldest surviving English Elms in the world

Brighton and Hove was granted National Collection status for its Elm collection in 1998. The city has more diversity of Elm types than any other city in the world. The current population is estimated between 25 – 30,000 mature Elm trees and as many Elm saplings. Brighton and Hove is internationally renowned for its work managing Dutch Elm disease. 

The trees were originally planted in large numbers by the Victorians and Edwardians (with some of the trees dating back before Queen Victoria’s reign) due to their tolerance to chalky soil and salty wind. They became increasingly rare after the 1970s due to Dutch Elm disease – a fungus carried by beetles that decimated the Elm population in the UK. Brighton’s unique position between the South Downs and the sea formed natural defences, which helps to keep the city free from disease.

The most notable collection of Elms is in Preston Park, home of the “Preston Twins”, considered the largest and oldest surviving English Elms in the World. Elm is known to be the only species of tree to support the White Hair-Streak Butterfly and it’s known that there are a few locations to support this in Brighton and Hove. 

First Base has submitted plans to Brighton and Hove Council to transform Anston House on Preston Road into a new co-working hub for Brighton and Hove which will include modern workspaces that cater for Brighton’s thriving SME’s and 229 much-needed homes for the city. The plans also complement Preston Park with extensive planting of new elm trees and landscaping that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors.

The Elms Project will be launched officially at the Pavilion Gardens Café in September. For more info visit: www.firstbase.com