A huge funding boost will help restore precious wetlands across the South Downs region and help raise awareness about the vital importance of water in all our lives.
National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £1.7m to the “Downs to the Sea” initiative, which will increase and restore a network of vital wetlands across and around the South Downs National Park.
Downs to the Sea will help carry out much-needed restoration work to a number of internationally designated wildlife sites, such as RSPB Pulborough Brooks and Pagham Harbour in West Sussex. The initiative will restore 15 ponds in the National Park to create biodiversity hotspots and support the movement of wildlife between sites, increasing resilience to a warming climate.
A range of activities are also planned to connect people with waterways, including volunteering to help rivers and social prescribing to tap into waters’ benefits for health and wellbeing.
It comes as wetlands are under increasing threat from climate change, water usage, pollution, flooding, drought, and fragmentation. Some two thirds of all freshwater species are supported by ponds and yet the UK has lost half of all its ponds since 1900. In the South Downs National Park, a survey of pond locations showed that almost 70 per cent are in poor condition, or have disappeared from the landscape, resulting in large swathes of downland where no surface water is available for wildlife.
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.
Tim Slaney, Chief Executive (Interim) of the South Downs National Park Authority, said:
“This significant funding is wonderful news for the South Downs National Park, its surrounding communities and the wider area. With a network of rivers, chalk streams, ponds, wetlands, coastline and a major aquifer, the South Downs is already of a landscape of many important ‘blue’ spaces that support both nature and people. Yet, like so many parts of England, these water environments are under increasing threat and it’s absolutely vital that we work to together to protect and enhance this precious resource, in terms of quality, scarcity and where appropriate access to enhance our well-being.
“With this funding and alongside our partners, we’re looking forward to restoring and improving vital wetlands, ponds and rivers, increasing the landscape’s resilience to climate change. We also want to increase awareness of the pivotal role that water plays in all our lives, connecting people to water for its health and wellbeing benefits and also helping to upskill local communities to be able to look after these watercourses.”
Downs to the Sea will have two main strands: water in the landscape and water in people’s lives.
On the landscape side, a number of schemes are planned:
- Wetland Restoration in the Arun Valley – delivering vital restoration works on a string of functionally-connected nature reserves down through the Arun Valley to the coast, at RSPB Pulborough Brooks and Amberley Wildbrooks, and at Ferry Pool wetlands, part of RSPB Pagham Harbour and Medmerry. These sites are internationally designated for their wildlife but need urgent investment to help increase biodiversity and build climate resilience.
- Up to 15 dew pond restorations across Hampshire and Sussex, working with landowners.
- The restoration of the historic village pond at Falmer, led by Brighton & Hove City Council.
On the people side, there will be:
- Volunteering and apprenticeship opportunities around the monitoring and maintenance of watercourses.
- The creation of “Water Champions” to help lead community-based action and raise awareness of the importance of water in the landscape.
- A range of activities, including social prescribing, to help people experiencing loneliness, anxiety and depression. Working with local organisations there will be opportunities to get involved in nature-based activities, including at RSPB Pulborough Brooks.
- Schools will receive assembly presentations and resource packs, supporting the National Curriculum Rivers topic with local information and ideas on how they can help their water environment.
- Led by Writing Our Legacy, there will be creative opportunities for those who may not have had access to wetlands before. Working with artists from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse audiences, the creative project will explore and respond to the Arun Valley and its wider landscape and heritage.
Stuart McLeod, Director England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“Talking with National Lottery players, we know that nature and the environment are incredibly important to them. That’s why we’re pleased to fund South Downs National Park Trust to deliver this project that will not only restore vital wetlands and ponds, but bring more people to appreciate and care for their waterways. At The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we’re incredibly proud to be playing a role in ensuring our natural heritage is safeguarded for generations to come, but also that the projects we fund give people the chance to connect with the nature and wildlife that is on their doorsteps.”
Work will now take place to appoint a project team and further updates on the initiative will be provided. For updates visit our Downs to the Sea hub on the South Downs National Park Authority website.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.
Over the next ten years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.
We help protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.
We are passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
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