One of the country’s most well-known coastal landscapes has been named England’s newest National Nature Reserve.
The 1,500-hectare site includes rare habitats such as chalk grassland, heath and floodplain meadows, and is home to species including the chalkhill blue butterfly, skylark and bee orchaid.
Located within the South Downs National Park, the landscape is shaped by chalk formed from the remains of marine organisms over millions of years. This formation also creates a large acquifer supplying drinking water to nearby towns.
The cliffs, along with the Cuckmere River, attract up to one million visitors each year and have featured in films including Atonement and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The area was also described by writer Rudyard Kipling as ‘half-wild and wholly tame’.
Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, said: ‘This remarkable nature-rich landscape formed over millions of years and today is home to a vast array of wildlife including specialist plants, insects and birds.
‘Deriving its unique character from the special chalk geology, this new nature reserve is not only beautiful and diverse, but also a source of the pure water used in many local homes and businesses.’
Nature minister, Mary Creagh, added: ‘We have some iconic landscapes in England and few are more impressive than Seven Sisters. Beloved by millions of people, it is home to rare species like the chalkhill blue butterfly and the beautiful bee orchid.
‘This landscape also supplies clean water for local people and shows why we need to protect our most important places for nature, people and wildlife.’
The site is the 13th in the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves, a programme backed by King Charles III to create or extend 25 reserves by 2028.
Image: Vsevolod Belousov/UnSplash
In related news:
Comedian’s estate reaches Shelter, though ‘teeny, tiny’ legal advice was needed
Leave a Reply