Restoring Sussex Bay, Together

Introducing Sussex Bay

The beautiful Sussex seascape and its coastal waterways shapes the land and the way we live. It’s a source of wellness and joy, recreation and enterprise for millions of people - and it makes this region special.

But at this point, a thriving future for the “blue ecosystem” on our doorstep is not guaranteed: it faces unprecedented challenges, due to generations of environmental damage and climate change. We need a bold regional response. We need an investment of capital and resources into nature’s recovery, at a scale not yet seen.

‘Sussex Bay’ is a movement initiated by Adur & Worthing Councils and powered by civic organisations, local businesses and people. We have a vision for 2050 where our seascape and rivers flourish, so that nature, people and local economy can thrive. 

We’re on a mission to generate a £50 million fund to accelerate local seascape recovery along 100 miles of Sussex coastline. Our objectives are to amplify the inspiring nature recovery work already going on in this region and make the great new strides in research and funding required to build solutions at scale.

We have teamed up with 'Crowdfunder UK' and ‘Blue Earth Futures’ to put this cause on the map. We want to connect people to the great work already underway on the ground and in the water - and raise £1 million from funders big and small, local business, community groups and the public. 

Please contribute to the “Restoring Sussex Bay, Together” Fundraiser, to help make this cause irresistible for government, sponsors and scientists alike. 

It’s going to take bold collaboration across the region to bring this vision to life… and it all starts here.

Our Funders

Thank you to our funders, Esmée Fairbairn and Rewilding Britain, for making the launch of Sussex Bay possible and contributing the first £250,000 to the cause.   

Nature Recovery in Sussex Bay 

Hidden below the water, vital habitats and the vast array of life they support, are out of sight, out of mind. Exposed to diverse and increasing pressures, these precious ecosystems - our blue natural capital – have been catastrophically damaged or lost. Now more than ever we must bring nature back to our seabed, reefs and rivers.

Restoring these ecosystems and their blue natural capital helps protect our coasts from storms, clean our waters, store carbon and support biodiversity. And as nature recovers, people and the coastal economy will benefit too; from sustainable fisheries to enhanced health and wellbeing, and new commercial opportunities in ecotourism and leisure.

The good news is a dynamic nature recovery sector is hard at work here. Since 2020 we have identified and developed relationships with 49 active projects in this region.

Where the money is going

Our two big objectives are to amplify the inspiring seascape recovery work already going on in this region and to make the great new strides in research and funding required to build solutions at scale. So, the money raised will fund Projects, Research and Innovation in seascape recovery.

Projects: We are creating the ‘Sussex Bay Fund,' to disseminate funding via grants to applicable projects in the region. To give you a flavour of these projects, here are some examples of the amazing local organisations that have approached Sussex Bay to talk about funding.

Research and Innovation: We are building the UK’s first 'Blue Natural Capital Lab', a recognised essential solution for nature’s recovery. 

The objectives of the BNC Lab are to foster innovation in scientific research and monitoring methods, to convene regulators so that licensing new nature recovery projects is simplified, and ultimately to develop new funding models for private investment in nature’s recovery, by demonstrating the ecosystem benefits of the projects.

The BNC Lab will be a place for collaboration, innovation, and testing. We will bring key agencies, local partners and communities together, along with national policy teams, to explore better seascape planning, funding and project development.

More information

For further information about Sussex Bay, please refer to our website, read the ‘frequently asked questions’, or email us via our contact form. You can also follow Sussex Bay on LinkedIn for news.