Connaught Gardens
Description
Connaught Gardens is a notable public green space located on the western cliffs of Sidmouth at the top of Jacob’s Ladder. The origins of the Connaught Gardens date back to around 1820, when Emmanuel Lousada began constructing a marine villa on the site. The property was acquired by the Sidmouth Urban District Council in 1930 and officially opened to the public in 1934 by the Duke of Connaught, Queen Victoria's third son, from whom the gardens derive their name.
The Connaught Gardens are designed with sheltered walled areas that create distinct "outdoor rooms". It boasts a rich collection of both exotic and native plant species. A significant ongoing initiative is the "Cretaceous Arboretum," a three-year collaborative project that aims to introduce trees and shrubs reminiscent of the Cretaceous, Jurassic, and Triassic periods. This includes species like magnolias and palms, which were among the earliest flowering plants, offering visitors a unique glimpse into prehistoric plant life. Visitors can also follow a Tree Trail that highlights some of the exotic trees present, providing an educational and enjoyable experience.
Access
The main entrance to the gardens is from Peak Hill Road alongside the pathway down to the beach at Jacobs Ladder. The Manor Road car park is nearby.
Influences
The gardens are owned and managed by the East Devon District Council (EDDC) and Connaught Gardens is a popular venue for various community events, including music performances, theatre, and art exhibitions. The bandstand within the gardens regularly hosts concerts. This means that there is a high level of intervention from the parks teams to keep the gardens in good order and weed free, especially during the holiday season. However, the gardens also feature a 'terrace' path that overlooks the sea and the town and so they are exposed to storms in winter.
Habitat
The gardens are predominantly amenity grass (lawns) and flower beds however along the cliff top terrace some natural maritime cliff habitat remains. There are also stone walls and some stone pavng that support some lichen species.
Plants
Whilst the main species of plants are any 'weeds of cultivation' that manage to avoid the gardener's hoe the cliff top does have some natural vegetation and is dominated by ivy, the flowers or which are frequented by many insects in late autumn. There are also a number of specimens of the Duke of Argyll's Teaplant (Lycium barbarum) along here. This is an introduced species but is popular with some insects.
Lichens include the common Calcareous Rimmed Lichen (Circinaria calcarea) and mosses include Wall Screw Moss (Tortula muralis), both of which thrive on stone walls.
Animals
A small number of bird species that find gardens suitable habitat will be found, esoecally robins, but, in general, the animal life consists mainly of the insects recorded on the cliff top ivy which features a good colony of the Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) which is a recent arrival in Britain. A varirty of hoverflies will be found here and some species of Leafcutter, Mortar, and Resin Bees (Megachile sp.)