Nature is in crisis. The world is changing rapidly, and external factors are having a significant impact on our landscapes, heritage and communities.
The quality and quantity of water is one of the biggest issues in the South Downs National Park.
A healthy water environment is vital for the wellbeing of nature and people, yet on the dry chalk ridge of the South Downs, 70% of ponds have been lost, with resulting negative impacts for wildlife.
The State of our Rivers Report 2024 delivered the stark warning that none of England’s rivers are in good condition, and issues such as pollution, flooding and drought are only becoming more pressing in the face of climate change.
Water is at the heart of the Downs to the Sea project. It is a precious resource that is vital for people and communities, just as it is for nature and wildlife.
Restoring vital wetlands and ponds to good ecological condition is critical to support biodiversity and reduce flood risk. Enabling more people to enjoy and understand the value of water in the landscape is urgent for public health and wellbeing and to ensure resilience in communities and the wider countryside.
Celebrating a year of Downs to the Sea Project
It’s been quite a year for the Downs to The Sea project as we’ve hit a number of key milestones in our exciting endeavours to restore precious wetlands. Read more here.
This wonderful short film provides a fascinating snapshot into the first year of the Downs to the Sea project:
Downs to the Sea brings together a partnership comprising:
- South Downs National Park Trust,
- South Downs National Park Authority,
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds,
- Western Sussex Rivers Trust (formerly known as Arun and Rother Rivers Trust),
- Brighton and Hove City Council, and
- Writing Our Legacy.
The partnership is working on developing activities around the two following strands:
- Water in the landscape – restoring and improving vital wetlands, ponds and rivers, and increasing the landscape’s resilience to climate change and other threats;
- Water in people’s lives – connecting people to natural heritage and the water in their lives, to benefit their health and wellbeing, to develop skills and knowledge, and to help protect precious freshwater resources that are vital to our communities.
Following support from National Lottery Heritage Fund for our development phase, we are very pleased to have received £1.7m to continue the initiative for the next three years.
Thank you to National Lottery players for supporting Downs to the Sea.
If you have any questions or would like to talk about the project, please contact us at DownstotheSea@southdowns.gov.uk
Downs to the Sea is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are supporting nature recovery though the improvement, restoration and creation of wet habitats, giving scores of people opportunities to enjoy, engage and learn about them. The initiative is a partnership between the South Downs National Park Authority, South Downs National Park Trust, RSPB, Brighton & Hove City Council, Western Sussex Rivers Trust, and Writing Our Legacy.