Ann Griffiths memorial bench at Levin Down

admin
, 11 August 2024
Ann Griffiths memorial bench at Levin Down
Memorial bench © Clive Dunny

Dav Bridger

Ranger

Should you ever find yourself on Levin Down nature reserve, calves burning as you scale up the steep slope, a new bench installed in May 2024 offers an opportunity for respite and a moment to catch your breath.

Put in by our Leysdown Trainees, Abi Haidemenos and Pip Newby, and Rangers Clive Lunny and myself, the bench is there to commemorate Ann Griffiths, the late Reserve Manager for Levin Down, who dedicated decades of her life towards the management and care of the site since the late 1970s. The site contains areas of chalk downland and chalk heathland; with Juniper trees, which are a rarity in the south of England, Knotted Pearlwort plants, Chalkhill Blue butterflies and recent sightings of a black male Adder being a few of the highlights of the reserve. Red Kites soar overhead as Yellowhammers can be heard singing in the scrub, a chorus of crickets chirp in the grass, with butterflies and day-flying moths fluttering from flower to flower. Indeed, it comes at no surprise that Levin Down is home to the Pride of Sussex: the Round-headed Rampion.

The beauty of Levin Down goes beyond our boundary of course, with a stunning view of the surrounding landscape’s azure skies and a patchwork of emerald fields rolling out over the downs. It is easy to see why Ann loved this place so much. With the UK being home to 50% of the world’s remaining chalk grassland and the county of Sussex having 5% of that figure, Ann’s passion and commitment has been crucial to managing and protecting this rare habitat for future generations.

After some toiling and head-scratching, the bench was finally assembled and could be dug into its current place on the down. A worthy place to admire the view, take a mindful moment, and think of Ann, her diligence, and the natural beauty that encompasses you.

Ann’s bench can be found with the What3Words location of ///central.clogging.handy, or with the DMS coordinates, 50°54'51.8"N 0°44'25.8"W.

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Comments

  • Sue Talbot:

    Thank you for this. I knew Ann well from work at West Sussex and as a friend, and we continued to meet regularly during post retirement. This is a very fitting tribute to her work on Levin which was always close to her heart. Thank you also for the lovely words you have put together. Ann is greatly missed, and a trip up the hill and a rest on the bench will be an opportunity to remember
    all she did for the wildlife of the County.

    12 Aug 2024 16:14:00

  • Sussex Wildlife Trust:

    Thank you Sue

  • Sally Manning & Ian Evans:

    We also knew Ann from working with her at West Sussex County Council. This is a very fitting tribute to her dedication to Levin Down and to the landscape of the West Sussex.

    14 Aug 2024 14:22:00

  • David Eagar:

    Way back in the late 1970s I knew Ann briefly through the ‘Working Panel of Local Authority Ecologists’. I was working for the original Gwynedd County. She came up from WA to a meeting that included a well attended field visit to Newborough nature reserve, and later to a
    meeting in held in Shrewsbury. I recall her quiet
    sincerity and professionalism. Minds are a strange thing. Ann came to
    Mind thinking of West Sussex and the upcoming
    council elections. If I can possibly make it there from Birmingham I shall. You may find me on Facebook.

    18 Feb 2026 01:48:00

  • Sussex Wildlife Trust:

    Thank you David

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