Brief
Sussex Wildlife Trust and National Highways joined forces for a ‘Network for Nature’ project to restore the Pevensey Levels into a thriving biodiverse wetland, benefiting people, nature and wildlife. Once one of the UK’s great biodiverse wetlands, the decline at the Pevensey Levels had been driven by water changes, increased extraction, and climate change, resulting in drier wetlands and an imbalanced ecosystem. The goal was to restore wetland habitats by altering ditches, digging scrapes, creating deeper ponds, and reshaping the land to re-wet the Levels, enabling species to return.
Challenge
The challenge was to create a diverse wetland habitat by modifying ditches, adding new ditches, digging new scrapes, developing ponds and establishing new islands. The archipelago of wetland habitat was to serve as access for species to move through the landscape, creating a marshland habitat to support declining species such as waders and wildfowl. Close collaboration with Sussex Wildlife Trust, local farmers, landowners, and other organisations was crucial in raising water levels and ensuring the project’s success.
Solution
Our experienced team used their expertise in wetland restoration and water management to successfully plan and implement the project. Our skilled operators used our specialist equipment to reshape the landscape to enhance water retention. Creating 16 new ditch sections, 5 scrapes, and 12 deeper ponds to improve water flow and provide varied aquatic habitats, while 7 new islands offered vital stepping stones for wetland species. Working closely with Sussex Wildlife Trust, farmers, and local stakeholders, we raised water levels for long-term sustainability. As a result, the Pevensey Levels were re-wetted, allowing wetland species to recolonise and thrive.