Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) has been awarded a grant of £50,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to fund land purchase and local community activities at its Flatropers Wood Nature Reserve near Beckley in East Sussex.
Flatropers is a peaceful mixed woodland reserve with streams and an open heathland area. Wildlife highlights include carpets of spring woodland flowers, a good variety of trees such as oak, hazel and birch, great spotted woodpeckers and green tiger beetles that live in the sandy areas.
With the grant SWT has purchased a new block of woodland (2.8 hectares in total) lying adjacent to the existing nature reserve. Mainly dominated by conifers, the Trust is restoring the area back to deciduous woodland. This natural regeneration significantly improves the site for local wildlife and extends habitats for birds such as nuthatches and great tits, as well as bats, moths and butterflies including the white admiral.
HLF funding also enables SWT to extend its school and local community events at Flatropers Wood.
Nearby Peasmarsh CE Primary School is taking part in a two day education visit in late September when the children will learn about woodland wildlife and help produce artwork for the reserve’s new interpretation boards and leaflets.
The Trust is also running two Forest School programmes which are designed to engage young people from the local area through bushcraft and conservation tasks. Other planned events at the nature reserve include family days for local people to visit and discover more about their woodland, as well as half day guided walks around the woodland during the autumn and in early spring.
James Power, SWT’s Head of Reserves says “We are delighted to secure funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. With this very welcome backing we are able to look forward to making a positive impact on the development and conservation of Flatropers Wood not only for its wildlife but for local people too.”
Stuart McLeod, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in the South East region added, “We are delighted to support this wonderful project which will not only open up and conserve further important woodland habitats in Beckley but will also enable the local community to enjoy and learn from them to the full.”
ENDS
The Heritage Lottery Fund
Using money raised through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported more than 28,800 projects, allocating over £4.3 billion across the UK, with over £378 million to more than 2,600 projects in south East England.
