The results are in - what's next for nature?
By Charlotte Owen
Conservation Manager
Now that the dust has settled after the local elections and leadership roles have been assigned, we’re asking newly elected county councillors: what’s next for nature recovery in Sussex?
It’s vital that our local decision makers recognise that nature is not just nice to have – it’s fundamental to our health, wellbeing and economy. We’re already facing significant challenges in Sussex with water quality and availability, flooding, wildlife decline and a changing coastline. To address these challenges, nature must be embedded in the heart of decision making so that local councils are taking action to protect and restore the natural world we all rely on.
This is even more important in the context of devolution and local government reorganisation, which will see major changes in Sussex over the next two years. Our district and borough boundaries will be changing to form new authorities, and a Sussex Mayor will be elected in 2028. We want to make sure that decision makers at every level recognise the value and importance of the natural world around us and that supporting nature’s recovery can benefit us all if we work together to make that happen.
We’ve set out six important steps all councils should take to drive forward a nature-focused approach:
- Put nature in all policies and appoint a named nature lead
- Embed the Local Nature Recovery Strategy in local plans and decisions
- Support Local Wildlife Sites and the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre
- Increase public access to nature
- Use nature-based solutions to fix local resilience
- Invest in nature to help coastal communities adapt to change
There’s more detail in this template letter, which you can use to contact your own local councillors to find out what they will be doing for the environment in your local area.
If you’re in West Sussex:
If you’re in East Sussex:
There are also newly elected councillors in Adur & Worthing Councils, Hastings Borough Council and Crawley Borough Council
Comments
In Worthing in central we need a Gtey to Green project. I would like to see more concreate places where water collects turned into wetland space with native polinatots. Shallow ponds linked into rain gatdens with true bull rush, purple loose strive, matsh wonwort, matsh marigold, hemp Agriminey, marsh mallow, feild scaboius, vipos buglos. A mix of wet tolerant trees and slpw growing Guilder Rose, alder buckthorn, spindle, fruit trees. Lets slow the flow!
I have been in touch with our new council representative fron the greens. I am a local ecologist and she likes my ideas but things have gone cold. Worthing Borogh council now have leased planting jobs to people who can not plant like Edurton. I am currently doing my own raised bed project pocket ponding! My own money cteating habitat fratures in urban areas.
11 Jun 2026 11:00:00
You want the natural future to be recognised by our government as fundamental to our health, wellbeing and economy. When I went to see what you have for young children & above on this site… Nothing and surely we should be interacting with the future nature rangers…. maybe with Summer holidays for the schools you have a plan in place?
11 Jun 2026 12:47:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Hi Mary. We regularly run events aimed at children and young people, work with local schools and community groups, run a monthly Youth Forum, work directly with Youth and Fledgling Rangers. You can find more information on our upcoming events on our Eventbrite page, which is updated regularly - Sussex Wildlife Trust. If you're interested in finding out more about how we engage with young people, you can find this here - Wilder Learning | Sussex Wildlife Trust and Youth Action | Sussex Wildlife Trust.