As the year draws to a close, it’s a good moment to pause and celebrate what we’ve achieved as a project. The past year has seen Weald to Waves take huge steps forward for nature and people across Sussex.

We launched our BioBox loan scheme, giving 400+ people access to professional ecological survey equipment so they can explore and connect with their local greenspaces. We welcomed our first Community Champions, passionate individuals and groups, helping us reach more people with the message of connectivity and nature recovery. And we expanded our reach to 1,109 gardens, 157 farmers and land managers, and over 22,000 hectares of land within the corridor.

None of this would be possible without the generosity of our funders and donors, whose support is the lifeblood of the project. Their backing allows us to take action for nature and communities across Sussex.

Last month we received the wonderful news that Weald to Waves had been awarded multi-year funding from the Elgol Fund for Nature, a grant-giving charity supporting projects that protect and restore UK wildlife. This funding will support Weald to Waves over the next three years helping us deliver practical, measurable outcomes for wildlife, landscapes, and people. Together, we will:

• Connect habitats by creating and restoring wetlands, hedgerows, and species-rich grasslands, building vital corridors for wildlife such as bats, dragonflies, and Great Crested Newts.
• Support farmers and landowners to adopt regenerative practices through training, demonstration farms, and hands-on workshops.
• Develop toolkits and management plans that share best practice in habitat creation, soil health, and grazing, ensuring our learning benefits a wider community of practitioners.
• Expand our citizen science network, coordinating hundreds of volunteers, and trialling innovative data collection methods across Sussex.
• Deepen engagement with local communities, empowering people to understand, monitor, and care for their land while taking part in a growing movement for landscape recovery.

This new chapter will help us move closer to our goal of creating a connected, thriving landscape stretching 100 miles from the Weald to the Waves. With every new hedgerow, restored grassland, and engaged community, our vision comes alive.

We are immensely grateful to the Elgol Fund for Nature for believing in our work, and to all our partners, land managers, volunteers, and supporters who make it possible. Here’s to another year of growing connections for people, wildlife, and the land we share.

If you are interested in supporting nature recovery across Sussex and would like to fund Weald to Waves and support us and our members to do more for nature and connectivity, please get in touch at info@wealdtowaves.co.uk.