With an iconic coastline, large urban wetland and internationally important chalk grassland, Eastbourne constituency has some wonderful places for wildlife. You can download the Eastbourne 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.

Enable Healthy Communities

Improving access to natural, wildlife-rich places where we live, learn and work will transform people’s lives, improving health, happiness, and hope across communities. Sussex Wildlife Trust works with local schools to deliver Wild Beach training, training teachers to use their local beach to support young people the opportunity to learn in and about nature and build a lasting connection. Access to a clean and healthy environment is a basic human right that should be guaranteed through law.

Fund wildlife-friendly farming

The Eastbourne Downs are an amazing public asset and 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 in Sussex 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.

End River Pollution and Water Scarcity

Eastbourne has a wonderful wetland right in the heart of the town and a much-loved coastline, 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 sea. Sediments and pollutants combine with those caused by destructive activities in the water such as dredging and development, which creates poor water quality and can smother marine habitats, making it hard for wildlife to thrive. We need integrated land-use planning and innovative methods of capturing water on land that creates space for water and reduces the amount of sediments and pollution ending up in our wetlands and seas.

Sussex Wildlife Trust members in this constituency: 1,266

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!