Ouse Estuary Nature Reserve Extension project

The Aim:

Since November 2020, the Community Partnership has been exploring the feasibility of extending the Ouse Estuary Nature Reserve, from its present position south of the Denton roundabout, to include all the land not required for commercial development on the eastern side of the lower Ouse estuary, right down to the beach. This has the potential for tripling the Nature Reserve to 332 acres and opens the possibility for additional recreation space, wildlife encouragement, carbon capture by biodiverse planting, and stimulating the tourist economy of all the lower Ouse communities.

How it’s tackled:

We’re looking at how to raise awareness of the effects of climate change on an area so sensitive to sea level rises and flooding. And we’re looking at ways of measuring important parameters like improved carbon capture by wilding agricultural land, by tree planting and the development of reed beds.

We’ve shall be engaging consultants to identify diverse Green land uses across the sites. Further benefits to the Newhaven Port Authoritiy are being defined. Their findings will be used to design a feasibility study for consultation with planners, landowners and project team members.

Developing green energy from the area is also being considered.

This is reaching an exciting stage with the financial support support from the National Lottery, from the involved local authorities and from the South Downs National Park Authority. Watch this space!

What you can do:

Engage with Newhaven Town Council, Seaford Town Council, The Environment Agency,  Lewes District Council, South Downs National Park Authority, Seaford Community Partnership / Seaford CARES and others to enable the project to go forward in the best possible way.

Practically, in 2021-2, there’s nothing needing volunteers’ involvement as negotiations continue with landowners.