Pagham Harbour to benefit from share of £1.7 million investment designed to restore 'vital' network of wetlands
Pagham Harbour is set to benefit from a share of a £1.7 million investment designed to restore a network of vital wetlandas across the South Downs.
The project, dubbed the ‘Downs to the Sea’ initiative, will carry out important restoration work to a range of internationally designated wildlife sites, including the RSPB Pulborough Brooks and Pagham Harbour. All in all, some 15 ponds will be restored across the South Downs National Park, creating diversity hotspots and supporting the movement of wildlife between sites increasing resilience to the warming climate.
Alongside this, a range of activities are planned to connect residents with waterways, including volunteering to help with rivers and social prescribing to tap into the water’s benefits for health and wellbeing.
The initiative represents a partnership between the South Downs National Park Authority, the South Downs National Park Trust, Brighton and Hove City Council, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Western Sussex Rivers Trust and creative arts organisation Writing Our Legacy.
“This significant funding is wonderful news for the South Downs National Park, its surrounding communities and the wider area,” said Tim Slaney, interim chief executive of the South Downs National Park Authority.
"With a network of rivers, chalk streams, ponds, wetlands, coastline and a major aquifer, the South Downs is already of a landscape of many important ‘blue’ spaces that support both nature and people.
“Yet, like so many parts of England, these water environments are under increasing threat and it’s absolutely vital that we work to together to protect and enhance this precious resource, in terms of quality, scarcity and where appropriate access to enhance our well-being.
“With this funding and alongside our partners, we’re looking forward to restoring and improving vital wetlands, ponds and rivers, increasing the landscape’s resilience to climate change.
“We also want to increase awareness of the pivotal role that water plays in all our lives, connecting people to water for its health and wellbeing benefits and also helping to upskill local communities to be able to look after these watercourses.”
Part of that process will involve the creation of ‘Water Champions’ intended to lead community based action, raising awareness of the importance of water in the local landscape, and a range of activities designed to help local people get involved with the natural world.