Sussex Wildlife Trust has approached Worthing Borough Council about the possibility of purchasing Tenants Hill, one of the town’s chalk grassland sites offering many opportunities for nature recovery, as part of a longer-term vision for the area that builds on the council’s own plans for nearby Cissbury Fields.

The site, located to the north of Lyons Farm, is currently farmed by a tenant and is close to Cissbury Ring, a significant historical and environmental landmark which is owned and managed by the National Trust.

Sussex Wildlife Trust, a non-profit organisation that works across the county to enable nature to thrive, is interested in buying Tenants Hill to increase the biodiversity of the site and embark on a long-term plan to restore it as high-quality chalk grassland, which is an internationally important habitat.

The council is working to develop a long-term vision for the wider Cissbury area, aiming to forge a wider partnership to deliver a thriving Cissbury landscape that benefits nature, the climate, people’s health and wellbeing, and the local economy.

As a council for the community, the local authority is committed to protecting and enhancing its much-loved green spaces for the benefit of current and future generations. The council believes that Sussex Wildlife Trust would be an ideal custodian of the land, adding to the nature recovery work being developed by the council at Cissbury Fields.

As part of its proposals, the trust would restore the rare chalk grassland habitat by grazing its conservation herd on the site. This restoration work would benefit a wide range of birds like Skylarks, insects such as the Adonis blue butterfly and plants including the round-headed rampion, also called the Pride of Sussex.

Importantly, public access would be retained through the site, which is dedicated for public access under Section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, certifying it as a space that can be enjoyed by residents and nature for generations to come. The trust also expects to offer volunteering opportunities for local people who want to get closer to nature.

The council is hosting a public engagement at Findon Valley Free Church on Monday 15th September from 6:30pm to 8:00pm, so residents can find out more about the proposals and ask any questions they may have. Representatives of Sussex Wildlife Trust will also be in attendance, and an update on the Cissbury Fields project will also be provided.

Members of the public can now reserve their space for the engagement event, which has a maximum capacity of 80 people. Tickets can be reserved on a first come, first served basis at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cissbury-landscape-engagement-tickets-1610313423799.

Councillor Vicki Wells, Worthing’s cabinet member for environmental services, said: “The potential adoption of Tenants Hill by Sussex Wildlife Trust for nature restoration is hugely exciting. We have a duty of care to nature and only through specialist collaborations like this can we ensure our unique chalkland landscape is protected and enhanced for wildlife and future generations.

“An engagement event has been organised for residents to ask valuable questions and understand what’s being proposed. We hope many people will join us for an evening of learning and discussion.”

To learn how Tenants Hill fits into the emerging vision for the Cissbury Landscape, and view answers to some of the most frequently asked questions, visit: https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/the-future-of-tenants-hill/.