“Wild Coast Sussex” gets big boost from lottery
August 9, 2020
An exciting initiative to inspire communities to care for the marine environment has received over half a million pounds of lottery support.
Sussex Wildlife Trust has been awarded a grant of £528,600 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund for its Wild Coast Sussex Project.
The project area includes the iconic Sussex Heritage Coast, which is part of the National Park and stretches from Eastbourne to Seaford.
Nikki Hills, Wild Coast Sussex Project Manager at Sussex Wildlife Trust: “Our partnership champions the rare and precious marine wildlife found locally, highlighting the extraordinary underwater kelp forests, seahorses and rays once abundant in Sussex which could recover and thrive if local communities know about them, understand the threats and support their conservation.
“The project aims to inspire and connect people to the Sussex coast and sea and engage those people by direct action to protect it. It will enable learning and activities to encourage positive lifestyle choices and behaviour change which in turn will reduce negative impacts on the Sussex coast and sea by empowering people to share experience and influence others.
“We will work with primary schools, young and commercial fishermen, as well as the wider community and general public and take them on a journey to make a positive difference to the crisis in the health of the sea.’
Project activities will include a Wild Beach education programme for children, onsite and digital interpretation, a programme of citizen science surveys, fun new coastal activities and social events including beach cleans.
Claire Kerr, who oversees the Sussex Heritage Coast partnership for the National Park, said: “We’re delighted they have been successful with the funding. This inspiring project will complement work in the Sussex Heritage Coast.”
Sussex Wildlife Trust is the lead partner on the project with Marine Conservation Society, Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority and Brighton SEA LIFE.
Main picture of short snouted seahorse by Paul Naylor/Sussex Wildlife Trust