Councillor applauds 'inspirational' Wilder Ouse

Wilder Ouse is delivering nature-based solutions and nature recovery networks through work with communities and landowners, and has just released their first end of year report.

The project is hosted by Sussex Wildlife Trust and supported by the Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust, the Woodland Trust, the Environment Agency and Lewes District Council.

Henri Brocklebank, Director of Conservation at Sussex Wildlife Trust, said: 

"The UK is signed up to 30% of land being restored/protected for wildlife for 2030. It's a huge ambition, but Wilder Ouse is showing us what this can look like at a local level. There's so much more to do and we are very grateful to Lewes District Council for their ongoing support and ambition for this work. The project delivers more year on year."

Amongst the list of achievements, the project has seen 4,512 trees and 700 metres of hedging planted, 23 ponds either created or restored, while 12 landowners are taking action for nature recovery following advice and invasive plants have been removed from three sites. 

These actions have significantly boosted carbon capture, with the wetlands accounting for 4,116 tonnes of carbon every year and 38,000 kilograms captured by the hedgerow planted.

Councillor Emily O'Brien, Cabinet Member for Climate, Nature and Food Systems, said:

"Reading the Wilder Ouse end of year report it is hugely encouraging to see how much has been achieved in such a short time.

"I am delighted that since the brilliant Sussex Flow Initiative evolved into this more diverse, landscape recovery project, we can celebrate such inspirational work."

Wilder Ouse has numerous five-year targets for the project, including 20,000 trees planted, 30 hectares of woodland, meadows and wetland restored and 20,000,000 litres of natural water storage created.

 Councillor O'Brien added:

"I encourage anyone interested in playing a part in this vitally important work to consider volunteering with Wilder Ouse and helping them to reverse the desperate decline in nature in the UK."

 For more information about Wilder Ouse and volunteering opportunities, please visit sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/get-involved/projects/wilder-ouse

More ways to receive our news

• Keep me posted. Sign up to receive news and alerts from Lewes council by email
• Read District News - our council newspaper
• Our Social media