Stretching along the South Downs in West Sussex, the ridge between Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring offers one of the county’s most scenic and rewarding birding walks. This section of the Downs, located just north of Worthing, is rich in biodiversity and steeped in history, with Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring both being ancient hill...
Rising above the village of Sompting in West Sussex, Steep Down is a quiet gem of the South Downs—a broad, open ridge of chalk grassland with sweeping views across the Adur Valley, Lancing Ring, and the sea beyond. Though not formally designated as a nature reserve, this elevated landscape is part of the South Downs...
Mill Hill Nature Reserve comprises approximately 13 hectares (33 acres) of chalk downland, scrub, and secondary woodland situated above Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex. It is managed by Adur District Council in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority. The site is among the few surviving fragments of unimproved chalk grassland in Sussex, a habitat...
Goring Gap is an undeveloped stretch of coastal plain located between Worthing and Ferring in West Sussex. Though not formally designated as a nature reserve, it serves as an important green corridor, connecting farmland with shingle beach habitats and buffering adjacent urban development. The area is informally managed with strong local advocacy for biodiversity conservation...
Worthing’s beaches, stretching from Goring to Lancing, offer more than just a classic seaside stroll—they’re also a fantastic spot for sea-watching, especially during migration seasons and stormy weather. With the English Channel unfolding to the south and a relatively unobstructed horizon, the shingle shore becomes a front-row seat to the drama of coastal bird movement....
Tucked between Lancing and Shoreham Beach, Widewater Lagoon is a slender, brackish ribbon of water running parallel to the sea—separated from the Channel by a man-made shingle bank. This 8.8-hectare Local Nature Reserve is a rare coastal lagoon habitat, shaped by tides, rainfall, and saltwater seepage, and it’s one of Lancing’s most cherished natural treasures....
The Upper Adur Valley extends northward from the A27 flyover in Shoreham to Bramber village, forming a low-lying corridor within the South Downs landscape. The area encompasses a mix of tidal river, floodplain, wet meadows, grazing marsh, reedbeds, and hedgerows shaped by agricultural use and estuarine processes. Habitat Composition Tidal River (River Adur): Meandering watercourse...
The lower Adur SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) is a protected area, particularly the intertidal stretch of the Adur Estuary, known for its mudflats, saltmarsh, and the birdlife it supports. The intertidal mudflats of the Adur Estuary support a number of wading birds, particularly redshank, dunlin and ringed plover. A variety of species breed...
Shoreham Harbour, located on the West Sussex coast between Shoreham-by-Sea and Southwick, includes key features such as the harbour entrance, Shoreham Fort, and the RNLI Lifeboat Station. This stretch of coast combines tidal estuary, rocky shoreline, and adjacent open sea, forming a dynamic interface between urban infrastructure and coastal ecology. 📍 Key Site Features Harbour...
