Tranquil Lewes spot gets a little love
July 27, 2022
An urban wildlife haven is enjoying a new lease of life, thanks to CIL funding to the tune of over £15,000.
People and wildlife are benefitting from the improvements at Lewes Railway Land, which is situated in the heart of Lewes, just off Cliffe High Street and behind the train station.
Nestled on the flood plain of the River Ouse, the reserve was once a busy railway marshalling yard that has now been reclaimed by nature. The area where the railway sidings once stood is now crammed with wildflowers that buzz with bees and butterflies.
The Railway Land Wildlife Trust was awarded £15,500 for habitat improvements to the site’s water meadows and hedgerows. The money has also help to pay for improvements to the old Signal Box – now a brilliant bird hide – and the installation of a dipping platform.
Helen Meade, CEO of Railway Land Wildlife Trust, said: “Our new pond dipping platform in the water meadows has opened up a whole world of beautiful water creatures to the many children and community groups who visit us – the excitement at finding a water stick insect was brilliant! They can dip safely and without damaging the banks of the ditches. When it’s really hot we take the creatures to look at in our Signal Box nature hide – also greatly improved with the help of CIL funding.”
And Helen added: “We’ve also had some paths replaced. One path in particular, by the pedestrian bridge over the railway line, would regularly become impassably muddy in the winter months and so we’re looking forward to people being able to get into the nature reserve more easily.”
Nikki Allen, who helps manage CIL payments for the Authority, said: “It’s wonderful to see the improvements take shape at this little oasis in the heart of Lewes. This scheme shows just how much of a difference CIL can make to local communities.”