With changes in weather patterns and drought threatening Sussex, conserving our water resources and our wetlands is becoming increasingly important says Elaine Hayes, Chief Executive of the Sussex Wildlife Trust.
The Trust, based at Woods Mill, Henfield, is one of several partners supporting the Sussex Otters and Rivers Project. The project was recently awarded European funding for a new initiative in East Sussex to encourage landowners, farmers and residents in rural areas to protect their valuable local resources, such as water, to preserve wildlife.
The Wetlands for Wildlife project will encourage people to enjoy their local countryside and aims to boost green tourism by promoting the spectacular culture, history and wildlife to be found in East Sussex.
Funding will be used to provide free Outreach educational visits for school children, free training for local residents in wildlife surveying techniques and free business and conservation plans for farmers in the county.
The East Sussex Coastal Plain boasts one of the two remaining strongholds for the endangered water vole in Sussex at Pett Levels nature reserve, Rye. A water vole survey training day is planned for August 19th and anyone interested in taking part should contact Fran Southgate the Sussex Rivers and Otters Officer on 01323 870810 (ext. 21) to book a place.
Water vole numbers have declined by over 90% in the last 20 years and it is hoped that funding from Leader+ and partner organisations will help ensure this precious population is preserved for generations to come.
Water vole populations are a good indicator of best practice in water
management. When water resources and watercourses are not managed, water voles react quickly and decline rapidly. But they also respond quickly when management improves and in turn hundreds of other species that rely on our wetlands, such as fish and dragonflies, also recover.
Fran Southgate explained, by improving the way rivers and wetlands are managed we not only help to increase the amount of drinking water we have but also contribute towards improving water quality and increasing the amount of flood water storage we have away from towns.
It also prepares the way for some of our rarest and most enigmatic aquatic wildlife, such as the otter, to return to Sussex after an absence of over 30 years.
Press enquiries: Amanda Solomon, Press Officer,
Sussex Wildlife Trust, Woods Mill, Henfield, West Sussex, BN5 9SD.
Tel: 01273-492630 Email: amandasolomon@sussexwt.org.uk
