The Storrington and Arun Valley Regional Group

Viviane Doussy, Chair, Sussex Wildlife Trust Regional Group (Storrington & Arun Valley)

It’s been two years since the thought first settled to start up a new Sussex Wildlife Trust Regional Group in the Arun Valley area. We’ve been busy bees bringing together a dedicated committee, drawing up our constitution, governance and purpose. Our vision was easy as we’re an Sussex Wildlife Trust-affiliated members group, so we implement the Trust’s strategy, plans and objectives at a local level.

Following the recent damning 6^th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we clearly need to do more to curb our carbon footprint and enhance habitats for biodiversity and bio-abundance. So most important was to decide what we could practically do to make a difference for wildlife and habitats on the ground. We’ve consolidated our efforts into 4 projects: Green Spaces for Nature, Churchyards, Swifts and Invasives (Himalayan balsam).

Our physical conservation work is complemented by educational aspects and bringing the group together socially. We offer garden visits, local walks and online talks including a nature quiz, plus we organise an annual mini-bus outing to Sussex Wildlife Trust' s flagship Discovery Centre at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.

We actively support Sussex Wildlife Trust campaigns where we can and have written to our MP and the House of Commons to raise deep concerns over the Retained EU Law Bill.

We love the upper Arun Valley – in the 1990s this 10 km² grid square (TQ01) has been assessed by Imperial College London as the most species-rich in the country! What’s not to like when you look at this inspirational wetland landscape taken from one of our members’ back garden (main image)?

If all this has whetted your appetite, please email us on [email protected].