Adur District Council has secured approximately £18,800 in funding from the South Downs National Park Authority to restore the dew pond at Lancing Ring.

The funding will come from the £1million Pounds for Ponds initiative led by the South Downs National Park Trust and conservation charity Froglife.

The council said the pond at the 46.85-acre nature reserve was in poor condition and often dry – but had ‘huge potential to support and attract even more birds, mammals and insects’.

Located just north of Lancing and within the South Downs National Park, Lancing Ring nature reserve is a much-loved walking spot for locals and their dogs. It is currently managed by Adur District Council and The Friends of Lancing Ring, who work collaboratively to maintain the landscape.

placeholder image — The dew pond at Lancing Ring

A council spokesperson said: “To help protect wildlife, a separate smaller pond will also be created for dogs to enjoy a splash and cool off. This will help reduce disturbance to wildlife and minimise the impact of spot-on flea treatments, which can wash into ponds and harm aquatic life.

“Research suggests a single dose of imidacloprid for a medium-sized dog contains enough insecticide to kill up to 60 million bees. If you use spot-on flea treatments, please keep your dog out of the Dew Pond and other ponds that provide habitat for wildlife.

“We’ve also applied for additional funding from the national park authority to support targeted scrub clearance across the landscape. This would remove dense, encroaching hawthorn and help restore Lancing Ring’s valuable chalk grassland. We’re keeping our fingers crossed and hope to share more good news soon.

“Protecting and enhancing Lancing Ring is part of our wider Vision for Nature, focused on restoring biodiversity across key nature recovery corridors.

“A huge thank you to South Downs National Park Authority for making this exciting project possible. Work is expected to begin in mid to late August.”