Come and ‘Have Your Say’ about the future of a local landmark - Lewes Downs. English Nature, Sussex Wildlife Trust and the Sussex Downs Conservation Board are inviting Lewes residents along to the Lewes Downs ‘Have Your Say’ community project launch at Lewes Town Hall on Friday 10 or Saturday 11 June, 11- 5pm to listen to local views on the area. These ideas will help guide how the landscape is looked after in the future, for the benefit of all. Then join experts for a ramble across Lewes Downs on Saturday or Sunday afternoon, to explore the area – its wildlife and history.
Malcolm Emery, from English Nature’s Sussex and Surrey team, explains “The landscape and its wildlife is something that different people value in different ways. Last year, we asked over 13,000 households around Lewes how this area matters to them and those responses proved that people really care about Lewes Downs. People enjoy visiting the area for a walk, for the special views or just to escape the hurly burly of urban life – and everyone agrees about the need to protect and enhance this landscape. Now, we want to hear in detail from individuals and groups with an interest in the Downs – and Lewes Downs 'Have Your Say' will give them a clear voice in shaping the landscape’s future.
"Because the focus is on engaging the community, I can’t say exactly what the project will yield: that’s really for the people to decide - but we are already setting up website (www.have-your-say.org.uk)
for Lewes Downs 'Have Your Say', so that people can find out about the project and add their views, get details of the guided walks, as well as provide links to information about wildlife and landscape, other recreation groups, bed and breakfasts and local food producers. Please use it!"
Details of guided walks :
Saturday 11 June: a natural history ramble with the Wildlife Trust’s Reserve Officer. Meet at 2.00 pm, at Lewes Town Hall.
Sunday 12 June: a cultural history ramble with archaeologists to the Caburn hill fort. Meet at 2.00 pm, at Glynde Village Post Office.
Press enquiries: Amanda Solomon, Press Officer,
Sussex Wildlife Trust, Woods Mill, Henfield, West Sussex, BN5 9SD.
Tel: 01273-492630 Email: amandasolomon@sussexwt.org.uk
