Saving the small things that run the planet
Changing Chalk is an exciting 4 year partnership project focusing on the chalk grassland landscape of the South Downs, Sussex and the communities of the coastal fringe between Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne and Lewes. Buglife is leading on three projects within the partnership, to address the challenges in protecting and enhancing this fragile chalk grassland for future generations; connecting people with nature.
Quick Facts:
Changing Chalk is a partnership project involving 10 core partners: National Trust (overall project lead), Brighton & Hove City Council, Brighton & Hove Food Partnership, Buglife, Lewes and Eastbourne Councils, Natural England, Railway Land Wildlife Trust, South Downs National Park Authority, Sussex Wildlife Trust and The Living Coast Biosphere.
The Changing Chalk partnership is focused on a 458 square km area, at the eastern end of the South Downs much of which falls within the South Downs National Park; beyond the park boundaries, and neighbouring the Downs are the communities of the coastal fringe between Brighton & Hove, Lewes and Eastbourne.
Buglife is delivering three distinct but intertwined projects as part of Changing Chalk.
This project is exploring ways to improve the chalk landscape for our declining insect pollinators; providing information and advice on how to manage wildflower habitats in B-Lines with landowners, land managers and community groups. The project plans to link the best remaining habitats together through new or restored wildflower stepping stones, so pollinators can move freely across the South Downs area.
The Buglife Team will be offering workshops, habitat assessments, advice and support to landowners and farmers as well as working with the community and sharing information about our wild pollinators, through workshop, training in pollinator ID, assessing habitats for pollinators, FIT counts and much more!
This project will work with the growing vineyard industry in the Changing Chalk project area, looking to work with vineyard owners and managers to see how they can help our wild insect pollinators. Exciting wildflower seed trials will be carried out at two vineyards, alongside engagement work with students studying wine and vineyard management.
The final Buglife led project is a species recovery programme for the stunning Wart-biter Bush-cricket. Known from just six sites in the UK, four of which are within the Changing Chalk project area, we will be re-surveying sites, looking at the potential for re-introductions and working with volunteers to create a long-term monitoring programme to safeguard the future of the species.
Take a look at our video below to find out more about the Wart-biter Bush-cricket.
Communities can get involved through a series of opportunities including volunteering, taking part in workshops and training, assisting with surveying and monitoring of habitats and species.
Information, advice and support is also available to landowners who would like to know more about the project, how they can be involved and how to improve their land for pollinators and other invertebrate species.
We will be seeking volunteers to:
For more information on how to get involved in our “Changing Chalk” projects please get in touch with Conservation Officer Alice Parfitt via email [email protected]
Changing Chalk is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Sussex Community Foundation, People’s Postcode Lottery, Milkywire, the Daniell Trust, the Chapman Charitable Trust and the Gerald Micklem Charitable Trust.
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