B Banks in Brighton & Hove

Find out what B Banks are, how they help the environment and where to find them in our city.

Bee and butterfly banks (B Banks) are miniature reconstructions of chalk grassland habitats found on the South Downs. They are full of wildflower species important to pollinators.

There are 19 B Banks across Brighton & Hove that help bring the South Downs into the city. 

All together, they measure a total of 1.26 hectares, around the size of 2 football pitches.  

You can find B Banks at: 

  • Mile Oak
  • Victoria Park
  • Hangleton
  • Wish Park
  • Hove Park
  • Waterhall
  • Dorothy Stringer
  • Surrenden
  • Carden
  • Hollingbury
  • Crowhurst
  • Hollingdean Park
  • Brighthelm Centre
  • Swanborough
  • East Brighton
  • Roedean
  • Woodingden Park
  • Woodingdean Memorial Park
  • The Patch
A wide angle shot of a group of people working together in a local park. They are digging and planting some grass chalkland and wildflowers

Image credit: Living Coast

A detailed ecological survey of the B Banks found 554 different species of invertebrates. This included 58 species with conservation status and a bee which is new to Sussex. They also recorded 191 species of plants.  

The future of B Banks in the city

The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere has funding to create new chalk grassland and wildflower habitats in urban areas of Brighton & Hove. This comes from The National Lottery Heritage Fund through the National Trust’s Changing Chalk partnership.

An urban wildflower garden full of bees. On the wall behind the plants there is a large mural of a bumblebee amongst red and yellow flowers.

Image credit: Living Coast

As part of the Greening the Cities project, this funding is being used to:

  • train volunteers through the Wildflower Guardians scheme
  • maintain existing B Banks across the city with the support of volunteer groups
  • create 10 new B Banks by 2026 – starting with one in Queens Park

The project aims to restore local chalk grassland habitat. It also gives residents greater access to nature by bringing the South Downs to their doorstep. Access to, and connection with, nature has positive impact on our health and well-being.

We’ve engaged with local community organisations, such as the Friends of Queens Park throughout the planning stages. These groups are helping to create and maintain the B Banks.

We've spoken to residents who live close to the new B Bank sites. Engagement activities with local schools are also planned.

We'll be inviting local schools and community groups to help bring the B Banks to life by planting chalk-loving wildflower species in 2024.