The council wants to help wildlife “thrive” at a pond where water dries up in the summer.
Falmer Pond is prone to drying up during heatwaves, causing fish to die.
In previous years, volunteers have rescued fish from the pond and called for a solution.
Brighton and Hove City Council is now taking action against the problem with £400,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Councillor Jacob Allen, cabinet member for public realm, said: “It certainly feels for the last few years wildlife here has been trying to survive, we want wildlife here to thrive.”
The Falmer Pond Restoration Project involves trees near the pond, which are impacting the quality of the water, being cut down and stripped back
“Many of the trees are not in good health,” Cllr Allen said.
“They’re self-seeding and they’re choking the pond which is really harmful to the wildlife that is trying to survive here.
“They’ll be removed and the foliage trimmed back to let the pond breathe.”
Silt at the bottom of the pond is also polluted by rubber and oil, Cllr Allen said, and will be removed to improve water quality.
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Cllr Allen added: “By this time next year, it will be a much healthier pond.
“When there are droughts, it will be much better irrigated so the wildlife won’t suffer in the sun.
“Generally this has been really welcomed by residents here and in Brighton and Hove.”
Work at the pond began on Monday, February 9, and will continue for around four days.
More work is due to take place later this year.
It forms part of the wider Downs to the Sea project, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The planned work involves reducing the tree canopy and removing selected trees to reduce leaf fall, increase light around the pond and support the growth of more plants and wildlife. Trees that remain will be managed to lower their height and leaf output.
The site ranger will work with volunteers to create habitat piles from the cut material and park rangers will monitor biodiversity changes around the pond.
No memorial trees will be affected.
Falmer Pond is owned by Brighton and Hove City Council, despite being in the Lewes district.
Under the city council’s reorganisation proposals, Falmer would fall under the city’s authority.
Cllr Allen said: “We have put forward it should be in Brighton and Hove City Council so that we can continue to deliver for the residents here which we're doing now even though they're not our residents.
“It shows we work really well both as an urban city but also on our rural fringe such as Falmer village.”
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