Councillor heralds 'landmark moment'

It's for local biodiversity

A project to create a new wetland habitat in Lewes took a major step forward this week as diggers broke through a riverbank allowing water from the old channel to rush into the new 6.8-hectare wetland area.

Adjacent to the Lewes Brooks, the Cockshut is a 3km long chalk stream that flows from springs at the foot of the South Downs in Kingston, eventually joining The River Ouse before flowing out to sea.

The Cockshut became clogged up by a non-native invasive plant called parrot’s feather, but having been realigned, the old course of the stream will now be filled in to eradicate the problem plant.

Councillor Emily O’Brien (pictured), Cabinet Member for Climate, Nature and Food Systems at Lewes District Council, visited the site to meet contractors and receive an update on next steps.

She said: “This is a without doubt a landmark moment in the council’s drive to improve levels of biodiversity in the district, as well as alleviating the risk of flooding in the area and the creation of a fantastic new wetland that residents, local schools and visitors to the area can take advantage of."