Community wildlife group hosts talks and films on wildlife and kelp restoration

The event was held in the Felpham Memorial Village Hall and drew around 100 attendees to listen to four talks on the interconnectedness of our local land and sea habitats, and the importance of protecting our diverse ecosystems.

Sussex has faced significant environmental challenges over the past 300 years, with the impacts of industrialisation, urbanisation, and intensified agriculture leading to the decline of essential species such as hedgehogs, skylarks, and butterflies. These changes have not only affected local wildlife but have also raised public awareness of the nature crisis, particularly as Sussex grapples with the consequences of flooding, heatwaves, and drought.

In response to these long-term pressures, the UK Government commissioned the influential “Making Space for Nature” report in 2010, which underscored the vital need to enhance connectivity between habitats to aid species survival and recovery. One of the key initiatives born out of this report is the Weald to Waves project, a partnership dedicated to restoring nature across a 100-mile corridor stretching from the High Weald to the Sussex coast.

Within this overarching vision lies the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project, encompassing efforts such as the Sussex Nearshore Trawling Byelaw, aimed at facilitating the resurgence of the once-thriving kelp forests in the region.

Felpham and Bognor hold ecological significance, with critical kelp nurseries nestled among the nearshore rocks and the Aldingbourne Rife—one of Sussex’s largest rifes—originating from a rare chalk stream before meandering through the community and out to the sea.

Considering these ecological factors, The Really Wild Bognor and Felpham Network held an afternoon of talks inspired by earlier discussions on Aldingbourne Rife as a wildlife corridor and the Knepp Wildland Foundation’s initiatives. The event sought to explore the intrinsic connection between the health of the land and the coast, highlighting the intertwined nature of the two and the pivotal role we can all play in preserving and safeguarding our local environment.

Speakers included Tony Whitbread, President of the Sussex Wildlife Trust, Director of the Knepp Wildland Foundation, and Trustee of the Western Sussex Rivers Trust. Tony presented “Everywhere Is Downstream of Somewhere,” taking attendees on an imaginary walk across Sussex to reveal how interconnected habitats shape community wellbeing.

Louise Barberton from the Western Sussex Rivers Trust and Helen Littlejohn from the Final Straw Foundation presented “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Our Sussex Rifes,” exploring the wildlife that depends on our rifes, celebrating their beauty, and addressing the challenges they face, sharing updates from community-led efforts to protect local chalk streams.

Paul Boniface, volunteer, diver, and cinematographer with Sussex Underwater, showcased extraordinary footage of the kelp forests off the coast and discussed the importance of protecting marine ecosystems, highlighting the positive impact of inshore trawling bans on the seabeds along the Bognor shoreline as an inspiring example of nature’s resilience. Paul was joined by Eric Smith a local diver who was instrumental in achieving the 4km trawler ban of our shores.

A Q&A session included far reaching questions ranging from the effects of the Rampion 2 wind farm to whether what are the main causes of pollution in our Rife.

Event host Glenn Powell said “The presentations emphasised the connection of our own wellbeing with the natural world. They highlighted the impact of small actions in contributing to restoration and challenged harmful habits. The event asked attendees to make mindful choices in their daily lives to create a healthier and more resilient environment for all.”

All the speakers were from local charities and organisations that depend upon voluntary funding. Donations were invited from attendees, and the afternoon raised around £300 for these organisations.

More talks are planned for 2026. Information on the Really Wild Bognor and Felpham Facebook pages. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1482013649069749