Restoration of national park wetlands gets £1.7m

RSPB Pulborough Brooks is one of 15 wetlands that will be restored

A grant of £1.7m has been awarded to a project which aims to increase and restore a network of wetlands across and around the South Downs National Park.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant for the Downs to the Sea initiative will help provide restoration work at a number of internationally designated wildlife sites.

The 15 wetlands to be restored include ones at RSPB Pulborough Brooks and Pagham Harbour in West Sussex.

A national park spokesperson said the scheme would "create biodiversity hotspots" and "increase resilience to a warming climate".

A South Downs survey of its pond locations showed that almost 70% were in poor condition or have disappeared from the landscape.

That resulted in large swathes of downland where no surface water is available for wildlife, according to the national park.

Tim Slaney, chief executive of the South Downs National Park Authority, said: “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 we’re looking forward to restoring and improving vital wetlands, ponds and rivers, increasing the landscape’s resilience to climate change."

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