RSPB Amberley Wildbrooks is a large wetland reserve located in West Sussex. It sits within the South Downs National Park and is part of the Arun Valley. The majority of the reserve is made up of wetland which is designated SSSI, SPA, SAC and Ramsar. The wetland is important for both wintering waders and wildfowl and breeding birds such as Lapwing and Redshank.
Over the last 10 years, infrastructure on the site has been gradually declining. With the added pressure on increases in winter flood events and pressure form Fallow Deer, this decline has been rapid in recent years. The Downs to the Sea and Improving Pulborough and Amberley projects aim to restore the wetlands. Work to culverts will improve access and hydrological control. This will allow better grazing and control of water. Installation of a corral and new fencing will allow better grazing and reprofiling ditches where Anisus vorticulus are found will enhance habitat for this rare snail.
This work will help make the site more resilient to the wetter winters and drier summers we are seeing as a result of climate change. Wet features and scrapes will help hold water during drier times and replacing broken culverts will create better water flow and control.
Downs to the Sea has been established as a multi-partner project, led by the South Downs National Park Authority, to tackle these issues with the aim of helping to restore and protect crucial ponds and wetlands that are instrumental in nature recovery and resilience to climate change at scale, providing multiple ecosystem services: water for homes and farms, flood storage, wildlife habitat and recreation.
The project will also connect with underserved audiences and those most vulnerable to health and wellbeing problems in the area and leave a legacy that highlights and supports the need for recovery and resilience in our communities, for both people and nature.
The RSPB projects included in Downs to the Sea will see vital restoration works on a string of functionally connected nature reserves down through the Arun Valley. Work will focus on improving lowland wet grassland across the RSPB sites to benefit RSPB priority species (breeding waders and wintering wildfowl).