Work completed to improve Lewes Railway Land

The improvements to Lewes Railway Land have seen the upgrading of the site’s water meadows and hedgerows, its bird hide and the installation of a dipping platform.

The Railway Land Wildlife Trust was awarded £15,500 from the South Downs National Park’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding for the works.

Nestled on the flood plain of the River Ouse, the reserve was once a busy railway marshalling yard that has now been reclaimed by nature.

The area where the railway sidings once stood is now crammed with wildflowers that attract bees and butterflies.

Helen Meade, chief executive of Railway Land Wildlife Trust, said the improvements have “opened up a whole new world”.

The reserve was once a busy railway marshalling yard that has now been reclaimed by nature

“Our new pond dipping platform in the water meadows has opened up a whole world of beautiful water creatures to the many children and community groups who visit us – the excitement at finding a water stick insect was brilliant,” she said.

“They can dip safely and without damaging the banks of the ditches. When it’s really hot we take the creatures to look at in our signal box nature hide – also greatly improved with the help of CIL funding.

“We’ve also had some paths replaced. One path in particular, by the pedestrian bridge over the railway line, would regularly become impassably muddy in the winter months and so we’re looking forward to people being able to get into the nature reserve more easily.”

Nikki Allen, who helps manage CIL payments for South Downs National Park, said: “It’s wonderful to see the improvements take shape at this little oasis in the heart of Lewes. This scheme shows just how much of a difference CIL can make to local communities.”