Our Projects

The Wellbeing in Nature project runs free, friendly sessions that are open to anyone who experiences poor mental health. It is based on the huge amount of evidence about the benefits that being outdoors in a natural environment can bring to everyone’s mental health.

We’re delighted to announce the National Lottery Heritage Fund has approved a hugely generous £2.23m of funding for this project. ⠀
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Led by the National Trust, Changing Chalk is a partnership of ten organisations, who will work together for the future of the eastern South Downs and towns. The Railway Land Wildlife Trust’s role is to appoint a Chalk Life Ranger who will work with communities across Lewes and Eastbourne, enhancing engagement, enjoyment and understanding of the natural wonders on our doorsteps.

Nature Links Community Action Project aims to connect people to their local natural spaces  with a view to strengthen climate resilience, increase biodiversity and enhance wellbeing. With a focus on empowering young people to lead the way to a more sustainable future, there are many opportunities for everyone to get involved.

The Railway Land Wildlife Trust’s ‘Green Careers for All’ project aims to inspire young people to pursue ‘green’ careers that will help tackle the climate and ecological emergencies we face.  Despite the seriousness of these situations globally, there are many rapidly growing local opportunities for young people to develop fulfilling careers, whilst being part of the solution. 

The Railway Land was  a lifeline for many people during lockdowns. However, the increased use has had a significant effect on the nature reserve, with whole areas of vegetation that provided vital wildlife habitat now lost to increased footfall. 

This project works with volunteers to help restore areas of the reserve, and to bring people together so they can also recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

Rewilding has really captured people's imagination, but what does it really mean and how could it help with the management of a small, urban nature reserve like the Railway Land?

The Trust is a partner in the Ouse Valley CARES project, which has received development funding from the Climate Action Fund to work with local communities to strengthen our Climate Action, Resilient Ecosystems and Sustainability.

This voluntary after school group emerged from the Coastal Communities 2150 project and they named themselves The Linklater RATS, Raising Awareness of Tides and Sea levels. 

Discover how, in 2003 a remarkable partnership was formed between Dr Alison Jolly, a Lewes based primatologist specialising in the social behaviour of lemurs in Madagascar, and Dr John Parry, a founder Trustee of the Railway Land Wildlife Trust

Thanks to the South Downs National Park Authority’s Sustainable Communities fund, this project will bring some of the excellent resources we use for school visits to a wider audience.

Nature Corridors for All (NC4A) participants are all adults with learning disabilities who meet at the Linklater Pavilion twice a week. This project has been running since 2005 and is currently supported by East Sussex County Council.

The water meadows that sit between the Railway Land Local Nature Reserve and the River Ouse have been grazed by cattle for many years. They are an unusual habitat, and the ditches in particular contain a rich diversity of species.

Learn about how our team and members of the community are using fixed-point photography for new discoveries across the UK.

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The Resilient Railway Land is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and has been an invaluable opportunity for the Trust to take a step back and re-examine its long term strategy and objectives.