Get involved
Everyone in Sussex can get involved in their Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Add your projects and opportunities to our interactive map, watch a webinar or find out what Sussex residents love and have observed about their wildlife and wild places. You can also view photos, drawings and poems about nature sent in by Sussex 5-17 year olds.
Are you a landowner, farmer or land manager? Visit our dedicated page.
Watch a webinar
The webinars below explain what Local Nature Recovery Strategies are, what they aim to do, and the ways local people, organisations and groups can get involved.
Our Residents webinars (held in June 2024) also presented insights from the Public Survey to playback what you told us is important, as well as share inspiring case studies from those already working for nature in Sussex.
Watch them to hear from the brilliant and innovative Wilding Waterhall, Wilder Ouse, Greening Steyning, Lewes Swift Group, Sussex Ornithological Society, Weald to Waves and Sussex Youth Rangers.
Residents: East Sussex and Brighton & Hove webinar (June 2024)
Residents: West Sussex webinar (June 2024)
Community groups and orgs active in nature's recovery (March 2024)
Parish and Town Councils (February 2024)
Map your actions for nature
Across Sussex, community groups, organisations, farmers and land managers have or are taking steps to improve our natural environment, and we want to make sure these excellent actions are captured, large and small.
This voluntary Actions for Nature mapping tool is designed to help you tell us about your projects for nature whether completed, in progress or planned.
Take a survey
Public Survey (Feb-Jun 2024)
To enable Sussex residents to contribute to their Local Nature Recovery Strategies, a Public Survey sought their views and observations on local environmental issues. The survey closed on 30th June with 1,834 responses.
Findings from the survey that summarise the habitats and species residents value, what they have noticed about them, and what they'd like to see in the future have been captured in two reports. Insights have also been used to inform the priorities for nature’s recovery in Sussex, a key step in the development of each LNRS.
A page from the species report
Residents' favourite places to enjoy nature in Sussex
Residents also used the Public Survey to tell us about their favourite places to experience nature in Sussex and why. Explore the places they told us about by clicking on the pins in our interactive map. The more comments a place has, the more popular for nature it is.
'Those active in nature's recovery' survey
‘Friends of’ groups, voluntary organisations, local environmental/community/faith groups, and active town and parish councils are already working to help nature in Sussex. Most have existing priorities and projects, and valuable on-the-ground knowledge and experience – this makes them important stakeholders for the LNRS and potential delivery partners for its recommendations.
If you represent a group or organisation in Sussex that’s already working to benefit our natural environment, take the survey to tell us about your activities and interests. This survey closes in October 2024.
Read interim 'Those active in nature' survey results
A snapshot of results was created at the end of July to provide an overview of the survey's results to date. The report covers:
- The habitats and species community groups and organisations feel are a priority in their local area.
- Current and flagship projects.
- Challenges and concerns.
Organisations and Businesses Survey
Does your organisation have land that could be better utilised for nature?
If your business is located on a larger site that has potential for habitat creation or improvement, or you are already implementing actions for nature on your estate, take our landowner and land manager survey to let us know.
Creative youth prize draw
While we've been seeking the views of local people through surveys, events and workshops, there are other ways to engage the future custodians of our landscapes - children and young people!
This prize draw for 5-17 year olds asks young people to show us what nature in Sussex means to them.
They can share a photo, drawing or poem they've made for the chance to win a £25 gift card. While the prize draw has now closed, you can still see the faboulous poems, drawings and photos that were submitted. Head to the Youth Prize draw page and scroll down to see the two galleries.
A picture of a fox made by Otto, 6 from Mid Sussex.
Email us
If you have a specific question or would like to get in touch, please email your county's LNRS team:
- East Sussex: EastSussexLNRS@eastsussex.gov.uk
- West Sussex: WestSussexLNRS@westsussex.gov.uk
We will aim to respond to all enquiries within 14 days.
Attend an event
Past events
Farmers and landowners in the Rother Valley, West Sussex
19/11/2024
South Downs Centre, North St, Midhurst GU29 9DH
West Grinstead Ploughing match
21/09/2024
Westons Farm, Itchingfield, Nr. Horsham West Sussex RH13 0BD
Follow up workshop with key Sussex delivery partners for nature
18/09/2024
Shoreham
Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) members event - featuring a Sussex LNRS presentation and discussion
10/09/2024
Montague Farm, Hankham Hall Rd, Hankham, Pevensey BN24 5BB
Nature & Climate Event for communities in the Cuckmere, East Dean & Friston, and Willingdon & Jevington parishes
03/09/2024
The Pump Barn, Seven Sisters Country Park Visitor Centre
Initial LNRS priorities shortlisting workshop
08/07/2024
The Macs Farm, Ditchling, East Sussex BN6 8GT
Sussex Bay Launch Event
13/06/2024
Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome, Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton BN1 1EE
A Local Nature Recovery Strategy for East Sussex and Brighton & Hove - webinar
10/06/2024
Online
NFU - LNRS evening for Kent, Surrey, Sussex & London
23/05/2024
Online
West Sussex Youth Cabinet Workshop
29/04/2024
Online
Workshop with the key delivery organisations for nature
22/04/2024
Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea
Sussex LNRS Briefing: Groups and organisations active in nature's recovery webinar
25/03/2024
Online
LNRS: Farmer Cluster workshop: 1066 Farmers
05/02/2024
Robertsbridge