With chalk grassland, ancient woodland and internationally important wetlands, Chichester constituency contains some of the most important wildlife sites in West Sussex. You can download the Chichester Constituency Map to look more closely.

We want the next government to commit to our top 5 priorities for action on nature. Here are some local examples of the importance of these priorities in your constituency. 

End River Pollution and Water Scarcity

This constituency contains internationally important habitat, but water pollution is impacting people and wildlife. It’s not just about sewage overflows, the way we manage our land and where and how we build affects what runs into our rivers and out into the sea. In Chichester Harbour mudflats that are important feeding grounds for wading birds are being smothered by excessive algal growth from too many nutrients in the water. We need integrated land-use planning and innovative methods of capturing water that creates space for water and reduces the amount of sediments and pollution ending up in our rivers and seas.

Fund wildlife-friendly farming

Much of the Chichester constituency is designated as the Chichester Harbour National Landscape and the South Downs National Park. Farming is fundamental to this area, but the destruction of nature and the impacts of climate change are the biggest threats to food security in the UK. We need a government that supports farmers to shift towards regenerative, nature-friendly methods. Many farmers and land managers have gone to great lengths to support wildlife but without being adequately rewarded. The budget for environmental farming has already fallen by a third since 2010. Not investing properly means everyone loses.

Bring back the UK's lost wildlife

We know that to halt the decline in species, we need to make more space for nature. But shockingly, areas that are already protected for wildlife are still being lost to development and poor management. Chichester District Council has identified important wildlife corridors in its emerging local plan that connect places for wildlife and allow it to move through the landscape and adapt to climate change. These corridors need defending and the council need support from the Government to do this. We need 30% of land and sea protected and managed for nature by 2030.

Sussex Wildlife Trust members in this constituency: 1,605

Tell your election candidates you care about nature - we've set up a simple email action to help you contact all your election candidates and let them know why nature matters to you. Thank you for your support!