Community Group Focus: Polegate Jubilee Nature Reserve

Continuing a series of blogs focusing on community wildlife and conservation groups across Sussex, Lesley Bosly tells us about the great work being undertaken by the Friends of Polegate Jubilee Nature Reserve.

Polegate Jubilee Nature Reserve is a fabulous new conservation project in Polegate. Gifted to Polegate Town Council, this small piece of woodland is now managed on behalf of the council by a group of volunteers - the Friends of Polegate Jubilee Nature Reserve. It is ex-railway land, some signs of which can be found on site, situated between the railway line and farmland. The farmland has planning permission for significant housing development so the site will be especially important in maintaining a connection with nature in the future.

The Friends committee and working group has been actively looking after the land since October 2022, creating paths and clearing a meeting area for visitors. The group's aim is to conserve the nature reserve as a habitat for local wildlife, encouraging and maintaining biodiversity, whilst providing a natural green space for residents to enjoy. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the local wildlife and environment, and be part of the conservation experience.

It is early days yet and the immediate focus is on continuing to work on the creation of paths and the meeting area for suitable access. The Friends are also looking forward to a delivery of a small number of native saplings from the Woodland Trust to supplement the existing trees. As spring approaches attention will turn to observing the site to take stock of what wildlife is around and the emerging flora. By way of support Sussex Wildlife Trust has offered to run a couple of open engagement sessions, on birds in the spring and bats later in the year.

If you are interested in finding out more about the reserve or how to get involved please email [email protected].