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.
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 has been 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.
We received support from National Lottery Heritage Fund for our development phase to work together to create an activity plan and develop the project towards a full delivery phase application.
The bid was submitted to the NLHF at the end of May 2024. We are expecting a decision in the autumn.
If successful with our bid, we will help to protect some of the most biodiverse and special places in and around the National Park and raise awareness of the vital role that water plays in all our lives.
Thank you to National Lottery players for supporting the development phase of 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