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New "citizen science" photo posts, wildlife ponds, and improved habitats for birds are among the latest improvements at Seven Sisters Country Park. The National Park Authority, which began managing the 280-hectare site four years ago, continues to invest in the beauty spot for both nature and people. One of the latest upgrades is the installation of three special photo posts.
The aim of the posts is to help the National Park Authority create a detailed picture of how its work is changing Seven Sisters across the seasons. Visitors are being encouraged to become "citizen scientists" by taking a photo using the cradles and submitting the image on social media, using the hashtags, or by email. Over time, the collated images will be used to build evidence on what is working at the country park and areas that may need more investment.
New 'Citizen Science' photo posts. (Image: Laura Clapham) Meanwhile, enhancements to wetlands have just been completed, including the restoration of two historic ponds and the creation of a brand-new one in the park’s dry valley. This vital work will help support birds, mammals, amphibians, and insects such as dragonflies.
Two important sluice gates have been repaired on the Cuckmere meanders to help control water levels and prevent areas from drying out. Ranger Lawrence Leather next to the restored Newbarn Pond at Seven Sisters Country Park. (Image: Jeff Travis) Two new scrapes, or shallow ponds, have also been dug to create muddy feeding habitats for wading birds such as the little egret, dunlin, and ringed plover.
Ditches around the meanders have been deepened to prevent predators, such as foxes and badgers, from disturbing ground-nesting birds like the redshank. Other improvements include replacing gates along the South Downs Way, the 100-mile National Trail that runs through the country park. Claire Onslow, Commercial Manager.
(Image: Seven Sisters Country Park) Claire Onslow, commercial manager for Seven Sisters Country Park, said: "This is such a special place and it’s wonderful to see all the changes, big and small, that are making the site even better for wildlife and visitors. "Everyone can play their part in nature recovery and these new photo posts are a fantastic way of helping in the stewardship of this iconic landscape. "We’re known for our birdlife and I’m really looking forward to seeing the impact of the improvements and which species find a new home at Seven Sisters.
" The National Park Authority has invested well over £2 million in improving visitors' facilities over the past four years, including a fully-refurbished visitor centre, a new food outlet, new toilets, and bins. Last summer saw the unveiling of beautiful holiday cottages and a camping barn for people to be able to enjoy a night under the stars for the first time at Seven Sisters. Sussex cattle and Shetland ponies have been introduced at the site to manage the chalk grassland, called "Europe’s rainforest in miniature" as a single square metre can contain more than 20 butterfly species and up to 40 different wildflowers.
The recovery has seen the return of species such as the short-eared owl, starlings, and large flocks of dunlin, as well as swathes of colourful wildflower meadows..
