County bird society supports habitat restoration project in Lower Cuckmere Valley

The area is valuable for many wintering bird species, such as Avocet, Redshank, Curlew and Lapwing, many of which are listed as being of Conservation Concern. Jon Curson from the Society has had a long involvement with the proposals for Chyngton Brooks. He says:

“The habitat created is predicted to be saltmarsh with some intertidal mud areas: the area won't simply be 'flooded' as some have claimed. This will create valuable habitat for waders and wildfowl especially and most importantly will give them an extensive secure area where they will be free from disturbance by people and dogs. The lower Cuckmere is crying out for such an area and this is becoming ever more important as visitor numbers continue to increase.

The breaches on the western river bank, which are an integral part of the scheme, are a good way of managing the realignment. The river bank is rapidly failing and has already breached once, a couple of years ago, which necessitated an emergency repair to keep the footpath open. Attempting to maintain this river bank footpath is unsustainable and would be very costly.

Although the footpath round the western edges of the estuary would be inundated at times a re-routed, all weather, path slightly higher up the slope is proposed, which would give good views over the new saltmarsh habitat.”

Data from the SOS was used to augment the ornithological surveys carried out on behalf of the National Trust. Further information can be found on the Society’s website www.sos.org.uk