Celebrating Our Scrubland Superheroes

Since the Weald to Waves project was started in 2022 we have had the challenge not only to create a wildlife corridor, but to identify what connectivity means on the ground. Find out more about what our exciting research is revealing...

Take a sneak preview at our new Weald to Waves Members’ Area. a digital hub to share information and track your Actions for Nature!

Discover how mob grazing boosts pasture health, livestock welfare and biodiversity, and learn about our new kit loan scheme to help you get started.

Currently showing in cinemas, Ocean is incredibly moving and shocking. It reminds us that there has never been a more urgent time to learn about our seas.

Explore the hidden world of local wildlife, from bats to bugs, with our new BioBox loan scheme for community groups.

On the May Bank Holiday, crowds flocked to Storrington to celebrate the return of white storks to our skies and the growing movement for community-led nature recovery.

Discover how traditional livestock and low-impact farming are playing a vital role in restoring Sussex’s rare chalk grasslands and supporting threatened wildlife, while the closure of small abattoirs is putting this type of management at risk.

The Newt Conservation Partnership delivers the NatureSpace District Licensing scheme, working with landowners across 11 counties to create and restore ponds and habitats for great crested newts. This scheme is enabling development while also achieving exceptional conservation outcomes and supporting land management.

As spring arrives, the movement of wildlife becomes a pivotal event, particularly for bird enthusiasts. This seasonal shift is critical for breeding and feeding patterns of various species, and Sussex serves as a vital corridor for these animals, providing essential habitats during this crucial time of year.

We have been excited to be chatting with the Buzz Club recently, a fantastic club of citizen scientists focussing on pollinators in our gardens. Read on to find out more and get involved in their projects.

Sussex scrubland set for revival through farmer and volunteer collaboration

Find out more about collaborative conservation in Kingston Parish

Back in Autumn, Matt Phelps told us about 'big years' for many of our bird species, and what you might see flying around the corridor this winter.

Over 20,500 Hectares Mapped for Nature

Parks are an important part of both our childhoods and our landscapes. We take a trip down memory lane to see progress at Brooklands Park.

As a species dependant upon good habitat connectivity, bats are particularly important for Weald to Waves. Learn more about bat species in Sussex, and how to help their survival in our own spaces.

Read more about Greening Steyning and their work this summer to celebrate Wildlife Corridors as part of their Green Day event.

Weald to Waves Lead was a significant role to fill, and demanded a unique blend of experience to give the right overview on the breadth of issues that landscape recovery requires us to tackle. We are pleased to be joined by Gareth Williams, the newest addition to the team, bringing a wealth of experience to lead the corridor.

We are pleased to welcome Ryan Ellis as our Landscape Advisor, who has joined the Weald to Waves corridor to develop of network and to find solutions for food production and habitat management that support nature recovery.

The black-veined white butterfly, with its distinctive black-veined wings and elegant flight, was once a familiar sight in the hedgerows and woodlands of Sussex.

PATINA (Parents & Teachers In the Arts) is a charity created at the turn of the millennium to give young people in the Lewes District the opportunity to experience and enjoy art, work directly with professional artists and gain a sense of belonging and community through the arts. Their recent "Moving On Parade" focussed on "Welcome To Our Table", celebrating local food and all the fun of growing, cooking and eating together.

Mob grazing is a technique used by an increasing number of farmers, enabling livestock farming to boost productivity and biodiversity by mimicking natural grazing behaviours.

Alongside our work monitoring vital environmental and biodiversity gains, we want to understand how nature recovery across the corridor is benefiting you. How is it making a difference in your lives, and in your communities? We want to hear your experiences.

Swifts and House martins have now been red listed in the UK due to a 50% decline in their populations in the last 30 years. Learn how we can again turn our summer skies into a spectacle of these high-speed masters of the air.

Lifelines works with farmers, landowners, and communities across the UK to support them in planting woodland and hedgerows on their land with the help of different faith & non-faith groups from across the country.

As Gardens & Greenspaces membership grows, it is wonderful to witness how our individual outdoor spaces, whatever their size are increasingly providing us with that much needed closer connection to nature.

If you're a farmer, community group, organisation or land manager use the voluntary tool to MapYourActions for nature. Whether they are large or small, in progress, implemented or planned, the Sussex LNRS team want to hear about them!

Hedgerows not only provide individual benefits on the lands where they exist but also serve as vital ecological corridors across landscapes, connecting biodiverse areas in a linear fashion. In Sussex, they are integral components of the larger Weald to Waves corridor, creating essential links between habitats and allowing species to move and disperse across a fragmented landscape. By enhancing hedgerow connectivity, we bolster the resilience and continuity of local ecosystems.

Did you catch Alex talking about Weald to Waves at the recent Webinars for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy?

The introduction of Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) represents a transformative approach to conservation in England. Find out how Weald to Waves is involved in this work.

Have you seen the live webcam from the White Stork Project? Tune in to see what is happening on one of the colony’s nests.

Have you heard about the Local Nature Recovery Strategies? Find out more about ways to get involved with planning for nature recovery across Sussex.

Pollinating insects play an essential role in maintaining the health of our ecosystems. Here’s how you can contribute to supporting these vital members of our ecological community by developing habitats that attract and sustain them.

One of the most important issues affecting our landscape is the interlink between nature and farming. How can we achieve sustainable food production and boost biodiversity? Lydia Baxter, Sussex Wildlife Trust's Wilder Ouse Project Officer, tells us more about how the project works to support nature and farming.

Have you seen your first swift this year? Matt Phelps updates us on the incredible migration patterns of the bird species appearing across Sussex.

We are thrilled to announce that Molly Biddell has joined the W2W team as a key advisor on Nature Based Solutions across farms and landholdings within the corridor.

In Sussex, the allotment tradition continues to thrive, not just for recreation and food production, but important urban spaces for nature.

The Scrubland Superheroes project is in full swing, creating "stepping stones" of scrub habitat along the corridor. Project Officer Rachel Bicker lets us listen in on her work monitoring birdsong at one of her target sites.

Did you see our new wildlife survey for our gardens and greenspaces members? We've had a fantastic response to one of our first steps to understanding the biodiversity in your spaces.

Our Gardens and Greenspaces Coordinator, Amy Hurn, visits High Beeches, to find out more about their fabulous biodiversity and their work on nature recovery.

Shoresearch is The Wildlife Trusts' national citizen science survey of the intertidal shore. Find out how to get involved.

The devastating impact of this winter's persistent rains has posed significant challenges for farmers across the region. What does this mean for nature recovery?

Judy Agate, local greenspace trustee and Greener Amberley committee member, talks about nature recovery in Amberley, and the latest work on planting and hedgelaying to boost biodiversity.

W2W Founding Farm, the Iford Estate, near Lewes, East Sussex, makes the press this month for their pioneering work in habitat creation.

Monitoring the corridor will take an army of experts and citizen scientists. Are you up for the challenge?

Do you manage land in the corridor? You could get involved in creating areas of scrub to help with the reappearance of Nightingales, Red-Backed Shrike and Black-Veined White butterfly.

Although we may be in the depths of winter, our landscape is alive with overwintering birds. Sussex Wildlife Trust's Species Recovery Officer, Matt Phelps, tells us more about what is going on, and where to see it all.

How do we create 100-miles of nature recovery corridor, across a densely populated landscape? Our roadmap to a corridor paints a picture of how we might achieve this huge task.

Greening Steyning takes on role as first Community Champion. Read their first blog reflecting on a rousing talk by the W2W team

Our first survey on nature in our gardens has been completed by nearly a quarter of members already. We can start to build a picture of what we have to offer wildlife and what is needed to improve connectivity.

Natural flood management as an affordable nature-based solution? Sky News visits the Adur

We are looking for a dedicated and experienced Project Lead to develop and deliver on a comprehensive strategy for the corridor, represent the project at regional and national levels, build up our partnership networks and manage our growing project team.

A myriad of species should one day benefit from 100 miles of connected landscape. But how might a human navigate the corridor? Ian Rogers takes on the challenge.

Tony Whitbread, independant ecologist and President of Sussex Wildlife Trust, reflects on the space between seasons and how it allows us to think beyond binaries.

The past nine months have been a whirlwind of activity. Read a summary of the key milestones, new funding and a glimpse towards the exciting horizon

New survey launched to build a better picture of our garden and greenspaces membership and ecology

Suzi Turner, Deputy Head Gardener at Knepp and Gardens and Greenspaces Ambassador, on autumn 'mess' and how to avoid tidying away hidden habitats.

Sussex is one of the most wooded regions in the country. Brush off your boots and explore the best of the autumn colour across the corridor.

New habitat creation project receives Natural England funding

We are looking for communications volunteers to help us with community outreach and social media.

As habitats increase along the corridor, they will provide safe passage for the great autumn bird migration. Ecologist and wildlife guide, Matt Phelps, shares how some species are embarking on their seasonal journey southward.

Gravetye joins the corridor, with 600 acres of farmland, woodland and wildlife gardens.

Fungi are a world of their own. Find out about the fascinating role they play in connectivity.

Sussex's coastline has long been a favourite destination for locals, tourists and wildlife. However, the deterioration of sea water quality in the region has been a growing concern in recent years.

White-tailed eagles, also known as sea eagles, are making a remarkable comeback in the southern region of England after an absence of almost 250 years.

Fancy a spot of kelp combing this summer? The Sussex Kelp Recovery Project would love your help to record sightings of this super seaweed along the Sussex coastline. Plus eggcase hunting, dolphin spotting and more!

Shining a light on one of Sussex's two seahorse species, which are facing a range of conservation challenges.

Off the coast of Sussex something amazing is happening. Two years ago the pioneering Sussex Nearshore Trawling Byelaw came into place, pushing bottom-towed trawling 4km off the West Sussex Coast. The changes are now starting to happen.

The interface between land and sea is particularly important for marine conservation, going back to the idea of connectivity being central to all of our efforts. While it may not be the first thing that springs to mind when we talk about pollution, sediment is a real problem for our marine habitats.

Coastal habitats each offer a unique and vital ecosystem. Explore these diverse environments and the species they support.

We were delighted to get news of Sayaan, a cuckoo that was tagged at Knepp in May, traveling along the corridor route from Knepp towards the Sussex coast and back up towards Ashdown Forest.

Opportunities for people to access nature are highly variable, especially in our coastal towns.

Dolphin Head, off the Sussex coast, has been designated as a Highly Protected Marine Area. It is one of only three English sites to receive this prestigious status.

Just as soils and land-based ecosystems have become degraded, so have marine habitats. Sewage is regularly discharged into rivers and seas, agricultural run-off upsets the natural balance of the water, while trawling destroys the seabed and the kelp forests that once flourished.

A journey up the Arun arm of the corridor with the Wildlife Trust.

The good news, from my experience, is that a wild garden – especially a mature one – can be extraordinarily resilient and resistant to even very prolonged periods of drought. Even through months of heatwave everything stays green and lush; no plants seem to show stress, and nothing needs watering.

In June, Weald to Waves travelled up to Groundswell, a festival dedicated to celebrating and sharing knowledge on regenerative agriculture.

This is your chance to be part of a pioneering project benefitting nature recovery in Sussex and beyond. Your pledges - small or large - will help establish a nationally-significant 100-mile corridor for wildlife, regenerating our local ecosystems for years to come.

In an upcoming episode of BBC Radio 4's Ramblings, Clare Balding embarks on a captivating journey through Ashdown Forest alongside a group of individuals who view this ten-square-mile open access land as a cherished national treasure.

I live in a terraced house in South Portslade, just outside Brighton, and have a modest 40ft garden. In the four years I’ve lived here, I’ve made my garden as welcoming to wildlife as possible, and it’s now teeming with hedgehogs, frogs, toads and newts, along with slow worms, birds and insects. Not bad for a small urban plot.

Wakehurst, Kew's wild botanic garden in Sussex, sits at the centre of the Weald to Waves corridor. This summer, it is preparing to unveil an extraordinary outdoor art installation called Planet Wakehurst.

Weald to Waves is a citizen-led project powered by the individuals and groups pledging to take part. As project coordinators, we think a key part of our role is to provide the tools and resources the network needs to support nature recovery along the corridor. Among these tools are the interactive maps on our new website.

This month, YoungWilders and Weald to Waves are embarking on a new partnership that will harness the energy and commitment of young people passionate about nature to help drive forward W2W's pioneering nature-recovery corridor work

With the biodiversity crisis taking root in people’s minds, weeds have become a recent topic of interest and discussion. We look at the role native plants play in our gardens and greenspaces.

In May, we opened registrations for the Gardens and Greenspaces (G&GS) community, a vital strand of our citizen-led, nature recovery mission to join the dots for wildlife along this Sussex corridor. And to inspire and encourage our new network of gardeners and greenspace guardians, we are delighted to announce two very special G&GS Ambassadors.

The media is overflowing with staggering numbers on species and wildlife populations in decline in countries around the world - and we know that the UK is one of the worst hit. So how can we measure nature decline in Sussex? This is a hugely important question with significant consequences for the corridor. Without a clear record of what we are losing we can’t understand the scale of our nature crisis or advocate for its recovery. By identifying the species and habitats most at risk from fragmentation, we have a clearer way of tracking the impact of the corridor on nature recovery in Sussex.

Knepp Wildland Foundation has forged a new partnership with Outdoor & Cycle Concepts, the parent company of Cotswold Outdoors, which will raise funds for and awareness of the Weald to Waves project, as well as broader nature recovery efforts.

Perhaps first we should ask, why is a corridor important? Traditionally, conservation has tended to focus on restoring and protecting key areas, such as nature reserves. These core areas are vital for maintaining sustainable populations of wildlife species. However, as human land use has intensified, protected areas have become islands, isolated in the wider landscape. Gradually, species ranges become restricted to these areas, leading to declines, low genetic health, and eventually to local extinctions.

In a groundbreaking move to safeguard UK waterways, the River Ouse is poised to become the first English river granted legal rights. Lewes District Council has embraced the concept of recognising the rights of nature, acknowledging the crucial need to protect local rivers. This paves a potential pathway to enhancing the health of ecosystems by affording them legal protections similar to those of human beings.

Our first survey on nature in our gardens has been completed by nearly a quarter of members already. We can start to build a picture of what we have to offer wildlife and what is needed to improve connectivity.

We have been under the spotlight this winter! We’ve had national press visits from the Guardian, the Times, and Defra; all keen to depict the scale and ambition of this citizen-led recovery project.

Rivers can form a critical part of nature corridors. They are home to hundreds of species of plants and animals. The water itself, riverbank vegetation and floodplains combine to offer rich habitats and food sources for birds, mammals, fish and amphibians.

One in six birds has been lost since the 1980s and the crisis is gathering pace. Over the past five years, 80% of butterflies have declined in the UK. Half of all Britain’s remaining butterfly species are now at risk of extinction.

We are delighted to be bringing a wave of new partners this month who represent key biodiversity hotspots along the corridor and bring invaluable knowledge and influence to our community.

The Dartford warbler is one of the defining species for the conservation of this important area. It’s easily overlooked, sometimes giving itself away by its scratchy song and occasional song-flight. If conditions are right, pairs can raise two, even three broods each summer. Once down to only 10 pairs in the whole of the UK, habitat protection and management, and warmer winters, now mean the UK population is in the thousands.

The UN estimates the planet has 60 harvests left, based on the current rate of soil depletion.

This is an entirely valid concern in these uncertain times - is it possible to sustain food security alongside nature recovery?

The world is facing a biodiversity crisis that will affect every single one of us. With nature being lost at an unprecedented rate, scientists agree humans are exploiting our planet beyond its limits.

We started the year with a new global commitment to set aside 30% of the planet for nature by the end of this decade.