Making a difference where you live
Creating the perfect home for wildlife
On the outskirts of Lewes we are managing a project that will see the realignment of a local stream and the creation of a new wetland habitat.
The project is a partnership between the council, Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust, Lewes Railway Land Wildlife Trust and South Downs National Park Authority and will bring huge biodiversity benefits and reduce flood risk in the area.
Adjacent to the Lewes Brooks, the Cockshut is a chalk stream that is currently clogged up by a non-native invasive plant called parrot’s feather.
By realigning the stream , the old channel can be filled in, eradicating the problem plant, and the stream will flow into a newly created wetland.
Later this year it is also hoped that the Ringmer Wetlands project will be completed. This is the development of an area of washland in the centre of Ringmer that will help to reduce the risk to flooding to an area of established housing that has experienced flooding over many decades.
Wilder Ouse
Wilder Ouse is a partnership project working across the Ouse River catchment to deliver Nature-based solutions and create a Nature Recovery Network.
Its small team of experts work with communities and landowners to help people and wildlife by restoring ecological connectivity, ecosystem function and building climate resilience.
The project is hosted by Sussex Wildlife Trust, and supported by Lewes District Council, the Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust, the Woodland Trust, and the Environment Agency.
Find out more in the Wilder Ouse End of Year Report 2023-24

Councillor Johnny Denis, Cabinet Member for Arts, Culture and Tourism & Leisure, said:
“We all know that nature is in decline across the UK, but in Lewes district we believe it’s our duty to do what we can to restore the natural environment. If other local authorities take our lead and implement similar strategies, together we will make a bigger difference.”
