Surrounding popular West Sussex gardens with thousands of homes would ‘totally alter its charm’

The owners of a renowned horticultural attraction near Henfield have spoken out against Mayfield Market Towns’ plans for thousands of new homes.
Pauline and Paul McBride, owners of Sussex Prairie Gardens (Photo by Marianne Majerus)Pauline and Paul McBride, owners of Sussex Prairie Gardens (Photo by Marianne Majerus)
Pauline and Paul McBride, owners of Sussex Prairie Gardens (Photo by Marianne Majerus)

Pauline McBride and her husband Paul created the Sussex Prairie Garden, just south of the Wheatsheaf Road, back in 2008.

The naturalistic looking garden is not ‘overly manicured’ and Pauline feels it ‘fits perfectly in this landscape’ and described how they wanted to share it with other people.

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It is located on their 32-acre farm, which originally belonged to her parents.

Aerial view across prairie-style garden, Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus', clipped hornbeam hedges, Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' (Photo by Marianne Majerus).Aerial view across prairie-style garden, Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus', clipped hornbeam hedges, Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' (Photo by Marianne Majerus).
Aerial view across prairie-style garden, Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus', clipped hornbeam hedges, Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' (Photo by Marianne Majerus).

The garden has become a significant tourist destination, welcoming more than 20,000 visitors every year between June and the middle of October.

The couple have not agreed to sell their land to Mayfields, but if it was allowed to go ahead the company’s proposed 7,000-home development would completely surround the attraction.

Pauline described how the development’s impact on the landscape, countryside and her business would be ‘far reaching’, adding: “I’m worried and concerned about the effect this whole plan is going to have on us.”

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Although Mayfields’ masterplan shows the garden being retained, Pauline argued that being surrounded by housing would totally alter its ‘charm and character’.

Map showing Mayfields' development boundary proposal. The McBride's land is the small red area in the centre of the site. Henfield is in greenMap showing Mayfields' development boundary proposal. The McBride's land is the small red area in the centre of the site. Henfield is in green
Map showing Mayfields' development boundary proposal. The McBride's land is the small red area in the centre of the site. Henfield is in green

She said: “We have a really great thing here. We’re really proud of it and we want to keep it.”

She urged supporters to take part in Horsham District Council’s current local plan consultation, which includes potential options for a number of different strategic housing sites.

Mayfields’ proposal is one of those being considered as the area looks to find sites for thousands of new homes.

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The garden welcomes visitors from abroad, organises placements and workshops, while the quality of their planting has been recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society and it has also featured on the BBC’s Gardeners’ World.

Mayfield Market Towns' masterplan for the site.Mayfield Market Towns' masterplan for the site.
Mayfield Market Towns' masterplan for the site.

It holds music events and craft workshops and also has an important link to the University of Sheffield’s landscape design department.

Pauline added: “it’s hopefully got a bohemian feel about it and I think that’s where its unique character rests.”

The consultation closes on March 30.