Downs to the Sea is a project led by the South Downs National Park Authority and South Downs Trust to bring together environmental organisations, farmers and communities. We’re focusing on water in the landscape, and water in people’s lives. Creation and restoration of ponds and wetlands is a key part of this project, as well as inspiring people to take action for our rivers and wetland habitats.
This project launched in spring 2025, thanks to the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Big thanks to SDNPA and SDT for organising the partnership and putting in a huge amount of work to pull the bid together!
Thanks to this project we now have two Water Champions in our team - Louise works with Parish Councils on river focused projects, and Cathy with schools and youth groups to help connect children with the watery habitats on their doorstep.
Louise works with Parish Councils and Community Groups to raise awareness of issues facing our water environment, provide advice and information, assist with community actions and projects, signpost to other agencies, find sources of funding, and help communities to understand how they can make a positive difference to their local water environment.
“Louise was very friendly, both before, during and after the presentation. Excellent communication of the important points showcasing problems, current work and solutions to them. It was intriguing to hear about these issues in more depth from someone who is very knowledgeable in her field.”
“It was an excellent and really thought-provoking event, it’s given me lots of ideas to take back to the parish council”
“Thank you so much for coming to meet us. The meeting was really interesting and informative and should really help us to communicate with residents more effectively about the waterways in Fishbourne.”
“It was great to meet you and your approach of listening and learning as well as informing was greatly appreciated.”
Cathy works with young people to help them learn how to look after our rivers and why they need our help. She is often taking children next to rivers or delivering ‘river’ based activities in schools, either looking at water invertebrates and wildlife, river features or the stresses humans put on rivers such as pollution etc. The children are taught to value and care for our beautiful rivers, helping them to understand that we are all part of the ‘bigger picture’ and we all can have a positive effect on our riverscapes.
We welcomed Fittleworth Primary to the Rother as part of our development work. James Russell, teacher at Fittleworth school, explained how valuable this type of outdoor learning is:
“Having the opportunity to venture out onto the Rother, walk the banks and investigate our local wildlife is tied inexorably to our schools values and the National Curriculum.
We are so lucky to be surrounded by such a beautiful landscape and ensuring that this is appreciated, maintained and preserved by future generations is a task of critical importance. The children were able to think about the role of water in the landscape and the role that it plays in their lives.
Now, more than ever, do we need children to engage with environmental issues and I would welcome the chance to take more children to experience this in the future. The staff that led the day were extremely knowledgeable and captured the children's attention, along with patiently answering any questions that they had. Thank you for arranging such an educational experience!”
“'Engaging, educational and helpful activity'”
