Wilder Wealden
New Wilder Wealden partnership to reconnect habitats and support wildlife recovery across the district
A new five-year nature recovery project will help to restore and enhance wildlife habitats across Wealden, creating a bigger, better and more connected landscape for wildlife.
Now recruiting: staff roles with Wilder Wealden
Wealden District Council is partnering with Sussex Wildlife Trust to deliver Wilder Wealden, bringing together landowners, land managers, farmers, community groups and local organisations. The project will support coordinated action to help reconnect and restore habitats across the district, helping nature to thrive while delivering wider benefits for people and building resilience to climate change.
The project will focus on connecting wildlife-rich habitats across Wealden, including grasslands, wetlands, heathlands and coastal areas in new corridors, enabling species to move, adapt and flourish again, and help create more resilient landscapes that benefit both people and nature.
Wealden is home to nationally and internationally important natural habitats, but many are fragmented and under pressure as nature struggles to survive in isolated areas. Wilder Wealden will help identify opportunities to enhance, expand and reconnect these areas at a landscape scale.
Building on the success of similar landscape-scale nature recovery projects across Sussex, Wilder Wealden will support local people and organisations to act for nature, helping create a more connected and wildlife-rich Wealden.
Councillor Paul Coleshill, Wealden District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, said:
“Wealden’s countryside, woodlands, wetlands and green spaces are part of what makes the district such a special place to live. Wilder Wealden is about working with our communities, landowners and partners to give nature more room to recover, while creating long-term benefits for our residents, wildlife and future generations to come.”
Nic Scothern, Chief Executive of Sussex Wildlife Trust, said:
“Wilder Wealden will bring people together to deliver meaningful change for wildlife. The project will be supported by a dedicated team of specialists and a rolling Nature Recovery Award, designed to help fund local action and support communities to play their part. We are delighted that Wealden District Council recognises this project as a lasting investment in the wellbeing of its communities and the future of its natural environment.”
Further details, including how landowners, farmers and community groups can get involved, will be announced as the project progresses.
Comments
I am director of Mayfield Climate Action and Wild about Mayfield and would be interested in this project to rewild East Sussex
09 Jul 2026 12:00:00
I would love to see nature improve and once again thrive. My garden is full of perennials which the pollinators love. It is small but at the foot of the South Downs National Park. I see the effect of climate change daily, indeed only yesterday thousands of flying ants rose up from the tiny patch of grass we own and not one bird arrived to feast on them. It was very odd. The birds visiting my garden have reduced significantly over the twenty odd years I have lived here and despite growing a thriving Buddleia there are much less butterflies too. I am sure the fact this area is overgrazed and nothing is allowed to grow naturally as the area is also bombarded with pesticides to ‘aid’ crop growth along the road by Berwick.
09 Jul 2026 14:59:00
I am a tree warden in Laughton. I would be interested in your plans and how I could help manifest those plans.
09 Jul 2026 17:11:00
This initiative is very important to help achieve the survival of rare species by linking important reserves and ecosystems. Populations need to be able to interbreed over large areas to ensure a large gene pool.
09 Jul 2026 18:12:00
This partnership is hopeful news. I do hope the SANGS in Uckfield will be included. It started as a lovely meadow, full of flowers and nesting skylarks. However now it is barren, with grass cut at the wrong time, unmanaged ponds and too often, much narrower wild boarders by hedges, and few surviving saplings. Contractors have said it isn’t meant for wildlife now, just for dog walkers. This is a surprising turn around. It could work for all, so fingers crossed it is restored.
09 Jul 2026 22:42:00
We have planted numerous trees and shrubs on the site of Polegate miniature railway over the past 6 or 7 years predominantly to manage the clay based ground water problems in the winter.
As a not for profit organisation that runs train rides for donation all our income goes on trackwork,fuel and insurance.
The wildlife has improved, foxes, moles, grass snake, slow worms birds and butterflies, but with help and advice we could do more, particularly along the wildflower meadow route.
I would certainly be very interested in learning more. (SWT member)
10 Jul 2026 10:07:00
I would love to see nature improve and once again thrive. My garden is full of perennials which the pollinators love. It is small but at the foot of the South Downs National Park. I see the effect of climate change daily, indeed only yesterday thousands of flying ants rose up from the tiny patch of grass we own and not one bird arrived to feast on them. It was very odd. The birds visiting my garden have reduced significantly over the twenty odd years I have lived here and despite growing a thriving Buddleia there are much less butterflies too. I am sure the fact this area is overgrazed and nothing is allowed to grow naturally as the area is also bombarded with pesticides to ‘aid’ crop growth along the road by Berwick.
10 Jul 2026 11:29:00
When large stands of Himalayan Balsam are notified to ESCC, their response is that they’ve been inspected and no action needs to be taken!
10 Jul 2026 13:55:00
Seems like a very good initiative to be repeated of possible ellsewhere
10 Jul 2026 15:39:00
I am so excited to hear about this partnership and very much want to be involved as a land and woodland owner. I look forward to reading about the details as they emerge.
11 Jul 2026 08:32:00
I look after a small woodland campsite in TN22 how do I find out if we are in the Wilder Wealden area?
11 Jul 2026 11:28:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Hi Jennie, the project is in the very early stages so this information is not yet available - keep an eye on our website and socials for more information!
If everyone works together we really can make a difference. It’s an exciting project. Thankyou.
17 Jul 2026 07:46:00