Explore the Park
The People’s Park for Nature (PPN) is a network of ‘mini parks’ spread across the lower Ouse Valley, East Sussex (also known as Lewes District). Anybody can join the PPN, whether you have land of any size or not, allowing the Park to grow organically based on community involvement and the movement of wildlife. Everybody is welcome!
Currently made up of 27 ‘mini parks’ all committed to our shared values, the PPN includes nature reserves, community growing spaces, gardens, camp sites, window boxes and more!
Explore the Park - PPN Members You Can Visit
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Laughton Greenwood
Laughton Greenwood is an inclusive, vibrant community of members and volunteers restoring a beautiful, ancient woodland in the heart of East Sussex. Discover here.
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Chilly Brook
Chilly Brook is a 6 acre wet meadow that runs between the Railway Land Local Nature Reserve and the River Ouse in Lewes. It is owned by the Railway Land Wildlife Trust who manage it in collaboration with the owners of the other meadows and a local farmer. Find out more about the Trust’s work and the wider nature reserve here.
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Peverells Community Garden
Peverells Community Garden in Seaford is always welcoming new volunteers. Whether you have a passion for gardening, carpentry, composting, or simply want to spend time in a vibrant community space, there’s a place for you here.
Come along to a volunteer session, follow them on Facebook, or reach out via email at rootsrisingcic@gmail.com.
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Eco Home Open Houses and Gardens
Visit inspiring wildlife gardens and homes using renewable energy this September as PPN teams up with community energy organisation OVESCO and the Lewes Mosaic Project. The event will be in Barcombe on Saturday 13th September, Lewes on Saturday 20th September, and Rodmell, Hassocks and Ditchling on Saturday 27th September. Full details will be available soon.
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Beaver inspired Ponds at 25 Grantham Bank
Visit 25 Grantham Bank, Barcombe, for free advice on pond building and the chance to view a beaver dam inspired pond brimming with wildlife. Owner Dylan offers free advice and can supply free pond plants if available. Visits are by appointment only. Contact here.
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The Secret Campsite
The Secret Campsite, near Barcombe, is a place where nature thrives and people reconnect with the wild. This isn’t just a place to pitch a tent; it’s an experience—a gateway to a world where glow worms light up the night, dragonflies dance over meadow grass, and the dawn chorus gently wakes you to a new day. Discover how to book here.
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Lovebrook
Lovebrook is a for-benefit organisation based across thirty three acres in the beautiful South Downs village of Kingston.
Its ambitious projects include an agro-ecological farm, food forest, therapeutic work, wellbeing activities, trainee farmers course, farm shop and cafe, camping and a programme of rewilding, ponds and tree planting.
Meet Our Community
Our growing network of members and partners share a bold vision for a wilder, more connected Lower Ouse Valley. By signing our Charter, every member demonstrates a commitment to accelerating nature recovery, deepening nature connection, and expanding access to wild spaces.
The People’s Park for Nature exists to bring people and organisations together — aligning efforts, sharing resources, and turning collective ambition into action. Together, we’re shaping a resilient landscape for nature and communities to thrive.
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Individual Members
Most of our members are individuals living across our communities. They inspire the PPN movement with hope, commitment, and brilliant ideas! All members have voting rights and influence over our plans and strategic direction. The PPN welcomes everybody for free.
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Barcombe Parish Council
The local parish council serving Barcombe, is focusing on wildlife restoration projects including bat monitoring and creating pollinator highways.
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Diversity Lewes
A community interest group founded around 2010 in the Lewes District that raises awareness of discrimination and promotes inclusion, working with local schools and community organisations.
https://www.escis.org.uk/advice-and-support/diversity-lewes-dl/
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Friends of Sutton Downs
A volunteer-led group based in Seaford that partners with the council to renature the verges and gardens at the Downs Leisure Centre to support wildlife, community and wellbeing.
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Foxwood Forestry
A sustainably-managed woodland supplying timber for arts and education projects, while supporting local creative, craft and design activities. On-site barn is available for workshops and other nature-based activities.
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Great Cansiron Holistic Trust
The Trust is a 490-acre land project near Holtye Common, combining biodynamic farming with rewilding, biodiversity, and community activities. Set up as a Community Benefit Society, it aims to connect people locally and beyond to explore how land can support nature, livelihoods, and shared learning.
https://www.wealdenfoodpartnership.org.uk/members-directory/great-cansiron-holistic-trust/
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Greenhavens Network
A charity serving the Havens-Lewes region of East Sussex that connects and supports over a hundred community groups in managing green spaces, encouraging biodiversity and tackling climate challenges. PPN and Greenhavens Network share expertise and run joint initiatives.
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Laughton Greenwood
A community-owned working woodland near Laughton and Lewes in East Sussex where volunteers restore an ancient wood, engage with nature, and provide inclusive access to forest space.
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Lewes Climate Hub
Lewes Climate Hub is an independent alliance of community groups and organisations in and around Lewes in East Sussex. Together, we’re taking local action to tackle the global climate and ecological emergency. PPN is a registered partner group.
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Lewes Football Club
A fan-owned football club based in Lewes, East Sussex, recognised for its commitment to equality — including being the first professional/semi-professional club to pay its women’s team the same as its men’s.
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Lewes Swift Supporters
A volunteer group in Lewes dedicated to protecting and expanding the town’s declining swift bird population by monitoring nests, installing boxes and raising local awareness.
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Lewes Urban Arboretum Project
A community-based tree-planting and urban forestry initiative in Lewes town dedicated to creating future woodland and greenery in urban settings.
https://friends-of-lewes.org.uk/natural-environment/lewes-urban-arboretum/
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OVESCO
OVESCO’s (Ouse Valley Energy Services Company’s) mission is to generate local community owned renewable energy and to enable our communities and businesses to do the same. OVESCO provides trusted advice to help local residents and businesses become more energy efficient.
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Peverells Community Garden
A community garden in Seaford created from a previously underused area, providing wheelchair-accessible raised beds, community workshops and space for growing food and connection.
https://lewesdistrictfoodpartnership.org/a-visit-to-peverells-community-garden-in-seaford/
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Railway Land Wildlife Trust
The Trust exists to inspire environmental sustainability by bringing nature to the heart of Lewes. The nature reserve is open 24 hours a day all year round and large parts of it are accessible by wheelchair.
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Rodmell Food Forest
A community-run forest-garden project on the side of the Ouse Valley in Rodmell, East Sussex, applying permaculture design to create a resilient, edible, wildlife-friendly landscape.
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Roots Rising CIC
A social enterprise based in Newhaven/Seaford that supports people growing food in small spaces, organising community garden sessions and promoting wellbeing through nature.
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The Secret Campsite
A small, nature-rich campsite near Barcombe offering large secluded pitches and a wildlife-friendly setting designed for campers to connect with nature.
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The Trevor Arms
A village free-house pub in Glynde, East Sussex, reopened in 2025 with a focus on local produce, community events and being a welcoming rural hub. The pub also has aspirations to develop a community garden.
Our vision
Our community is uniting to regenerate nature, increase biodiversity, and rebuild connections with the land. Through innovative projects that share land, promote rewilding, grow organic food, and celebrate nature through arts and crafts, we are creating a blueprint for sustainable living.
Rewilding ecosystems, reviving life
Our community’s nature restoration and rewilding projects will become a beacon for biodiversity. Every piece of land in the People’s Park for Nature is committed to creating more space for nature and increasing biodiversity. Together we will create more woodlands, meadows, and hedgerows, dig more ponds, restore wetlands, and introduce native species that further enrich the places where we live and work.
Sharing land, growing together
A cornerstone of this movement is the collective use of land for shared benefit. Local landowners and residents are joining forces, transforming spaces into vibrant hubs of activity for wildlife and people.
Community gardens and shared allotments are becoming hotspots for growing organic produce using regenerative methods. These spaces prioritize soil health, composting, and biodiversity, ensuring that every harvest not only feeds people but also supports nature.
Larger plots of land are being dedicated to habitat restoration and rewilding, with local people volunteering their time to restore land that supports amphibians, mammals, birds, and insects.
Connecting people to the land
Our movement puts people first. Regular community events like guided nature walks, wildlife monitoring sessions, and storytelling around campfires are helping residents of all ages form a personal bond with the land. We also hope to involve schools, by encouraging children to take part in outdoor learning sessions where they plant trees, build bug hotels, and track local wildlife. These activities will inspire the next generation to become stewards of the People’s Park for Nature and our wonderful natural world.
Cultivating creativity with nature
Natural materials are at the heart of a creative revival in our community. Workshops teaching foraging, scything, pottery and so much more are drawing participants of all ages. These hands-on experiences reconnect people to traditional skills and foster a deeper respect for the resources provided by the natural world.
A rewarding future for all
This holistic approach is already reaping rewards. Wildlife is thriving, neighbors are coming together in new ways, and practical knowledge is spreading. In future we anticipate that seasonal festivals, such as harvest feasts and wildlife celebration days, will highlight our community’s achievements while inspiring even more involvement.
We will plan to establish a shared fund to invest in larger projects, such as purchasing new land for rewilding and food production. Partnerships with local businesses and conservation groups will also be essential to ensure the initiative’s long-term sustainability.
