Much-needed improvements at RSPB Pulborough Brooks and RSPB Pagham Harbour have been completed as thousands of migrating birds arrive for their winter stay.
The £300,000 works have improved vital new wetland havens for birds, mammals, and invertebrates, while new pathways, viewing platforms and benches will enhance the visitor experience at both destinations.
The project is the first big milestone in the £2.4m Downs to the Sea project, which started earlier this year with ambitious goals of restoring and creating a network of “blue spaces” across the region. The project is supported by a £1.7m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, while Southern Water and DPD are also providing significant additional funding. Funding from the National Park’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to the tune of £50,000 also supported the work at RSPB Pulborough Brooks.
The work at RSPB Pulborough Brooks has fixed an ongoing problem of the wetlands drying out when rainfall is low. The 258-hectare site mainly consists of grazing marsh and a series of ditches, serving as part of the River Arun’s floodplain and home to species such as Lapwing, Nightingale, and the incredibly rare Little Whirlpool Ramshorn Snail.
However, lack of hydrological control has started to become a real issue in recent years, compounded by a more unpredictable climate.
New dams and sluices will increase control of water levels and also ensure more “muddy edges”, which are essential for wader chicks to feed.
Meanwhile, the large pond next to the site’s visitor centre has been given a huge makeover, with a new viewing area, pond dipping benches, a photography post and a new nature trail. The refurbishments give people, including those who are less mobile, the opportunity to get close to nature.
At RSPB Pagham Harbour, a large site called Ferry Wetlands has been significantly improved for nature, with a new solar-powered water pump and new islands within the saline lagoon to provide nesting areas for birds, including Avocet and Little-ringed Plover. A predator exclusion fence will be installed next year to reduce the number of predators eating breeding wetland birds and their eggs, while the existing network of ditches has been enhanced to attract a variety of wildlife. This programme has been made possible thanks to generous funding from Sussex Ornithological Society, the Big Give, The Solent Seascape Project, and the Chichester Harbour Friends.
Oriole Wagstaff, Senior Site Manager at the RSPB South Downs Reserves said: “This work marks a major success for both wildlife and people at RSPB Pulborough Brooks. Thanks to the new water management structures, we now have far greater control over water levels across the site- making the upcoming breeding season especially promising. As spring approaches, we’ll be able to create better conditions for breeding waders, giving them the best possible chance to thrive.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see the results of all the hard work come to life. These improvements are a vital step toward restoring our precious wetland habitats, which support a rich diversity of plants and animals. Enhancements to the visitor pond area have also improved accessibility to stunning views of the wetland, allowing more people to connect with nature, whether they’re enjoying a peaceful moment or joining in one of our family-friendly pond events.”
Natacha Bricks-Yonow, Project Manager for Downs to the Sea, said: “It’s hugely exciting to have completed this first phase of the project, improving significant wildlife habitats.
“Water is the foundation for all life and as a National Park one of our big ambitions is to work with partners to create cleaner and more biodiverse waterways right across the region. Nature doesn’t recognise boundaries, so our work at Pulborough and the Manhood Peninsula will create a better-connected wildlife corridor from the coast to the South Downs. Our work will also help to create lots of educational and engagement opportunities to help people of all ages and origins get closer to nature and understand why water is so vital.
“There’s lots more to come in the project across Sussex and Hampshire, including the creation of new ponds, and we can’t wait to see the benefits for both nature and people.”
Stuart McLeod, Director of London and South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It’s fantastic to see that nature is already reaping the rewards of the Downs to the Sea project, which has restored and protected these vital wetland habitats in Sussex. These improvements will not only benefit wildlife but also create opportunities for people to experience and enjoy nature in new ways. Thanks to National Lottery players, we can invest in projects like this that make a lasting difference for communities and the environment.”
Chris Woolhouse, Water Resource Environmental Resilience Strategy Manager, from Southern Water, said: “Southern Water are delighted to continue the incredible partnership with the RPSB, formed during our environmental study of the Arun Valley international sites of Pulborough Brooks SSSI, Waltham Brooks SSSI and Amberley Wild Brooks SSSI that started in 2021. Supporting the RSPBs Down to the Sea Programme, with future monitoring, technical collaboration and funding to their activities to improve water level management, and a broader package of ecological resilience measures at Pulborough Brooks. Delivering great environmental benefits for the wider designated features.”
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.
For updates on the project visit www.southdowns.gov.uk/downs-to-the-sea/
- Downs to the Sea is one strand of the National Park’s “ReNature” initiative, which is looking to transform 13,000 hectares – or over 20,000 football pitches – into habitat for wildlife by 2030. Learn more here: www.southdowns.gov.uk/renature/
Here is a map of the Downs to the Sea project area:
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
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