Sussex Wildlife Trust has launched ‘Wilder Ouse’ and is calling for volunteers to get involved and help reverse the decline of important wildlife and natural resources by building climate resilient habitats.

The project will bring people together across the Ouse River catchment area to create networks of land that are protected and enhanced for wildlife, to allow habitats to expand and wildlife to increase.

Volunteer tasks include tree planting, removal of non-native species, grassland and  woodland management, fencing, pond creation or restoration and building leaky dams.

The project plans to deliver numerous benefits for people and wildlife, as well as increasing awareness of the benefits that wildlife provides – with nature-led recovery at the heart of its work. This will include creating wildlife corridors, natural habitat restoration and exploring the potential to restore keystone species such as beavers. It will also be supporting the delivery of the Weald to Waves Initiative.

Over the next few months, Wilder Ouse Project Officer Lydia Baxter will be meeting local people with a view to working with them and leading some of the first nature recovery projects across the catchment.

Lydia Baxter said:

‘I’m delighted to be leading on this exciting project and keen to see what a difference it will make for multiple community groups, landowners and others who want to create havens for wildlife at such a huge scale. I’m especially happy to be driving forward vital nature-based solutions to climate change and to help enable and empower people to make a difference.’

This project expands on previous work carried out by the Sussex Flow Initiative. Wilder Ouse is a partnership project. Partners include the Environment Agency, the Woodland Trust and Lewes District Council.

If you would like to become involved with the project please contact wilderouse@sussexwt.org.uk

Photo: David Parkyn