Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust…
….Protecting & Enhancing Your Local Water Environment
Our Work
At OART, we are committed to protecting, restoring, and enhancing the rivers, streams, estuaries, and lakes within our catchment area. As a registered charity, our roots are firmly embedded in the local community, and we work hand in hand with businesses, partner organizations, and dedicated individuals. By fostering strong community relationships, we strive to deepen our understanding of the current state of our waterways and to educate and inform others. Through our projects, we aim to create a thriving environment for both wildlife and people. Explore our work and discover the transformative projects we deliver.
Get Involved
Discover the joy of collaboration, become part of our network of supporters and contribute to our mission of enhancing the Ouse and Adur Rivers. Embrace the chance to make a difference with the Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust. Whether you’re drawn to hands-on conservation work, passionate about citizen science, excited to be part of our events, or dedicated to monitoring sea trout along the river, there’s an opportunity for everyone. If getting hands on isn’t for you then join our Trust as a member and not only support our invaluable work and projects, but also receive regular newsletters and updates on our activities.
Discover Your River
Our catchment covers parts of East West Sussex, incorporating a diverse range of rivers, streams, brooks and lakes which flow through over 2,000 landholdings and both urban and rural settings. Despite their proximity, the rivers in our catchment are unique in their characteristics, offering different ecosystems and habitats for a variety of wildlife. At OART, we believe in the importance of understanding and valuing the rivers that surround us. Explore the wonders of your local river and discover the secrets it holds. Join us in our mission to protect and conserve these precious waterways for future generations. Get involved today!
Creating New Rivers & Wetlands
In 2016 we started work on a flagship project, daylighting a 1km section of the Broadwater Brook in Worthing and installing measures to remove urban pollutants. Finished in 2021 this project involved over 1,700 members of the local community and has seen significant improvements to water quality and a 97% increase in the sites biodiversity. This project has been awarded a Gold Standard by the United Nations Association (Climate and Oceans) and the Reach Scale River Prize by the River Restoration Centre. Find out more by clicking here
In 2019 we began a project to enhance the Cockshut Stream on the edge of Lewes. This chalk stream had been straightened, disconnected from the surrounding floodplain and was choked with the highly invasive Parrots Feather. Working in partnership with Lewes District Council and the South Downs National Park the stream has been “re-wiggled” through Lewes Brooks SSSI, creating a diverse habitat which includes an additional 6ha of wetland. You can find out more about this project by watching the video or by visiting the project website here.
Latest news
Lewes Winterbourne
Supported by the Environment Agency, OART have begun the first phase in enhancing the Lewes Winterbourne. This three year project will see the development of a restoration plan to bring this historic and much loved stream back to life as it flows through the town. There is a lot to consider, no doubt lots of hurdles to overcome, but we are committed to maximising the potential of this chalk stream through innovative techniques which improve the its ecological value.
Focus on Drought
We are delighted to have been awarded funding to deliver a two-year pilot on drought resilience for rivers and agriculture. Focused on the Longford Stream and Bevern Stream this project will undertake water audits and install rainwater harvesting to reduce on-farm abstraction alongside measures which aim to make the landscape more resilient to climate change by holding water for longer within the landscape, increasing soil permeability, and enhancing in-channel habitats as refuge areas for periods of low flow.
Tackling Non-Native Species
In partnership with South East Water, South Downs National Park, Environment Agency and University of Brighton, OART is excited to be taking forward the Ouse Invasive Non-native Species Strategy we co-wrote in 2022. Focused initially on the formation of a biosecurity charter the project will be seeking to monitor and control the spread of INNS across the catchment and will be engaging with local communities and landowners to raise awareness of the impacts of these species.
The Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust
OART is a membership based organisation dedicated to the environmental protection and enhancement of the Sussex River Ouse and Adur including their tributaries, estuaries and still waters.
Contact us at info@oart.org.uk
The Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust (OART) is a registered charity (No: 1082447) formed in 2011 from the amalgamation of two long-standing local organisations, the River Adur Conservation Society and Sussex Ouse Conservation Society.