Supporting floodplain management at Sheffield Park

Grants from the Sussex Lund (now known as a the Nature and Community Fund) have supported the restoration of 20 hectares of floodplain at Sheffield Park, one of Sussex’s most popular visitor attractions.

Sheffield Park is much loved for the colours of its autumn parkland, but the site spans a much larger area of over 450 hectares, including wide areas of meadow and floodplain along the River Ouse.

The river and surrounding meadows have been heavily modified over many years, from the Upper Ouse Navigation Act of 1790 through to intensive post-war agriculture. The river was straightened and deepened, cutting it off from its floodplain, while traditional hay meadows were converted to arable farming in the 1940s. As a result, the area lost much of its natural character, with fewer plants, insects and birds.

Funding from Sussex Lund has supported work across two areas spanning 20 hectares, at Broad Mead and Iron Gates Mead

At Broad Mead, a series of shallow scrapes are being created to hold water at key times of year, bringing wetter conditions back to the grassland and creating valuable habitat for wildlife such as lapwing. At Iron Gates Mead, historic bends in the river are being partially reconnected, allowing water to flow into the floodplain more naturally and creating a mosaic of wet and marshy habitats.

In this video, Andy Jesson, Park and Garden Manager for the National Trust, explains the significance of the grant and what has been achieved. Shallow scrapes are visible behind him; as the vegetation around these areas develops and reaches the ideal height, the team expects to see the return of species such as lapwings and snipe.

These changes form part of a wider effort to restore the River Ouse, helping the river and floodplain to function together once again. The Sussex Lund grant has expanded the scale of what the project could achieve, enabling a much more ambitious outcome than would have otherwise been possible. It has also encouraged valuable collaboration with other organisations, including the RSPB, Natural England, and the Environment Agency. These partners have recognised both the ecological benefits and the strong cooperative approach supported by the funding.

By allowing water to move more freely across the landscape, the project will support a richer variety of wildlife while also contributing to natural flood management. The approach is deliberately low-intervention. Once the initial works are complete, the landscape will be managed through grazing and careful stewardship, allowing nature to take the lead.

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