Frequently asked questions

• What’s happening at Chyngton Brooks?

  The proposal of this project is is to allow tidal waters to move in and out of this area, creating a more naturally functioning estuary system. This will involve breaching the western bank of the Cuckmere River in five locations.

• Who else is involved in the project?

  We're implementing this project in partnership with the Environment Agency and in close collaboration with local partners, statutory authorities, neighbours, local communities, and the farm tenant on site. The project was shaped following the outcomes of discussions and consultations, including the Pathfinder Project (2009-2012). The Coastal Change Pathfinder Project was a Defra funded programme seeking to better understand how to manage coastal change across 15 local authorities in the UK. The funding offered surveys and consultations with local groups.

  This proposal is in line with the Local Authority and Environment Agency Shoreline Management Plan policy of Managed Realignment (MR), which recognises that allowing natural coastal processes to continue is the most sustainable way to respond to long-term change. We have also worked closely with Natural England to ensure that any managed realignment benefits the overall biodiversity of the project site.

  As the project develops, we will continue to work with a range of organisations and stakeholders as well as local schools and societies to offer citizen science opportunities to observe habitats. Local communities play a crucial role in supporting these initiatives.

• Will it look different here once the project has started?

  Yes, the long-term aim of the project is to recreate a mosaic of habitats including saltmarsh and mudflats providing a haven for a diverse array of wildlife, including saltmarsh flora, birds, fish, and invertebrates.

  Saltmarsh habitats are rare in the UK. It has been estimated that over 85% of England’s saltmarsh has been lost since 1860, with only about 45,000 hectares of natural marsh remaining. Factors such as climate change, sea level rise, water quality and land use mean that we are at risk of losing more of the remaining habitat in the future. Saltmarshes play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity and mitigating climate change. Undertaking saltmarsh restoration projects such as this one at Chyngton Brooks are vital to sustaining this valuable habitat.

  Once the breaches have been made it may take some time for saltmarsh vegetation to become established as it requires a complex set of physical and environmental factors. However, over time this area will gradually revert to this rare habitat and will welcome the rich associated wildlife it supports. Find out more about saltmarsh recreation here.

• Will the historic meanders of Cuckmere Haven be impacted by the proposal?

  No. The proposed project does not impact the abandoned meanders as the project site is situated to the west of the Cuckmere River whilst the meanders lie to the east of the river. The embankment, created in 1846 first changed the course of the meanders in order to make navigation easier through a straighter route. It is only the western embankment that will be breached as part of this project to return the land back to its original form as a wetland.

• Will there be any changes to access?

  As part of this project, we will need to close one existing footpath that runs along the western embankment as this is where we will be creating the breaches. An application will be submitted to the Local Planning Authority (South Downs National Park Authority) for a Stopping Up Order to close the footpath. As part of the project the National Trust proposes to provide a new footpath across its land which would offer an alternative route from Exceat to the sea along the Cuckmere Valley.

• Will the King Charles III England Coast Path/Vanguard Way be affected by the project?

  As a result of the project, parts of northern section of King Charles III England Coast Path/Vanguard Way will be temporarily flooded during high Spring tides – these sections of the route are already subject to intermittent flooding. Instances of flooding will last for a few hours during high tide, half during the day and half at night. At times of flood, walkers will be able to use the proposed new footpath on higher ground as an alternative route. On most days of the year walkers will have the choice of using the existing route or taking the alternative.

  For the avoidance of doubt there are no proposals to close the King Charles III England Coast Path/Vanguard Way.

• How will the National Trust mitigate the loss of a footpath?

  A new footpath is being created further up the valley on this western side of the Cuckmere, which will allow visitors to enjoy a walk with spectacular views across the estuary. This new footpath will be out of the natural floodplain ensuring it will remain accessible at all times. The King Charles III England Coast Path/Vanguard Way will continue to provide a lower route along the western edge of the new saltmarsh, linking Exceat to the coast.

• Will the project impact public access to the Seven Sisters?

  No, the footpath on the western embankment does not offer a direct route to the Seven Sisters. Therefore, its closure as part of the Chyngton Brooks project would not affect how the public obtain access to the Seven Sisters.

• Will there be an issue with cyclists using the proposed new footpath ?

  At the northern end of the footpath it would join an existing cycle route (SEA21). Walkers would share this route with cyclists along an approx. 10m stretch before it joins the King Charles III England Coast Path/Vanguard Way.

  Signage and mirrors will be placed to ensure there is clear visibility to mitigate the risk of conflict between cyclists and walkers along this short stretch of the route.

  Along the existing shared section of the King Charles III England Coast Path/Vanguard Way south of The Cuckmere Inn, the National Trust proposed to undertake widening to provide more space to accommodate walkers and cyclists.

• Why isn’t the project focussing on repairing the existing defences?

  Our coastline is constantly changing. With rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather, we must work with nature rather than against it. As natural processes take their course the embankment will increasingly flood and erode, making the footpath along it regularly impassable and eventually allowing for natural breaching.

  The existing sea defences are aging and costly to maintain, with sections of the path already affected during high water. Recreating a naturally functioning shoreline will restore habitat and reduce reliance on artificial defences and the cycle of repairs.

  Restoring the rare saltmarsh habitat at Chyngton Brooks offers a chance to support wildlife, enhance resilience, and help the landscape function as it once did.

• What will happen to the wildlife already here?

  Both the east and west sides of the Cuckmere Valley are mainly neutral grassland, a habitat that is widespread across the UK. Similar habitats exist further up the river valley, so many of the species currently at Chyngton Brooks will be able to continue thriving nearby.

  Surveys have shown that a freshwater pond on the site supports a community of Great Crested Newts. As this pond is likely to become brackish over time, we will be creating new freshwater ponds close by to ensure the newts have a safe home.

  We will also be planting hedgerows to create new habitats for birds and supporting other wildlife already on site.

• Were other options considered such as culverts and sewer pipes?

  Yes, when we first started thinking about this project a range of options for allowing tidal flow into the area was considered, including bridges, box culverts, and large-scale pipes. These options were discounted for several reasons including:

  Allowing the system to evolve post-breach as naturally as possible gives the best chance for saltmarsh to recover;

  • We wish to avoid the use of plastic and cements on site, due to the risk of impact on the marine environment;
  • Initial costs were significantly higher than the preferred option of breaches, for limited benefit;
  • The bank would also need to be maintained at increasing costs over time to prevent a natural breach from occurring.

  Breaching was seen as the most viable and long-term sustainable option which offered a nature-based approach to managing the site.

• How long will it take for the saltmarsh to establish around the creeks?

  There is already some pioneer saltmarsh vegetation along the creek margins and therefore we anticipate that pioneer saltmarsh species (those who can live in the toughest of conditions) will start colonising the site within a year of us creating the breaches. This will progressively increase over the next few years, with new plant species moving in as the marsh becomes more established. It may, however, take 5 years or so for well-developed saltmarsh vegetation to become established.

• Will water pool at the site once it is flooded?

  We have designed the breaches to ensure that water can easily drain back to the main river channel. This will also be helped by the existing network of creeks and drains across the site.

  The site is designed as an intertidal wetland comprising of a habitat mosaic of saltmarsh, mudflat, wet creeks, and saline lagoons, meaning water will be present on site throughout the tidal cycle. And of course, at different states of the tide, the area will look very different.

• Has the historic environment been considered?

  We have worked closely with our archaeologist in the design of the project and consulted with Historic England and East Sussex County Council to minimise any impact on our historic environment and will continue to do so as the project progresses.

• How will you manage shingle at the river mouth?

  Since 2012, the Environment Agency has ceased regular maintenance of the river embankments, western beach, and associated sluices and groynes as there are no properties at risk of flooding in the area. This decision was part of a broader strategy to allow the area to return to a more natural state, reducing human intervention and enabling natural processes to shape the landscape. The only exception to this policy is the clearing of shingle from the river mouth when necessary.

  With the introduction of breaches at Chyngton Brooks, the tidal flow in the estuary is expected to increase. This, combined with favourable changes in water velocities resulting from habitat creation at the site, is anticipated to help keep the river mouth clear of shingle for longer periods than before.

  However, the project does not propose that these issues will be completely mitigated. The river mouth will continue to be monitored by the Environment Agency as before.

• Does the project increase flooding issues upstream of Chyngton Brooks?

  No, as part of our design we have carefully considered whether the proposals could affect flooding upstream and modelling has shown that the project is expected to lower water levels upstream and improve how water flows out to sea during the ebb tide by providing more water storage space at the project site. This should also help keep the river mouth clear of shingle for longer periods than it is today.

• Have bridges over the breaches been considered so that the embankment footpath can remain in use?

  Bridges over the breaches were considered in early design stages. However, due to the anticipated level of erosion, potential instability and the ongoing maintenance liability, bridges were not deemed to offer an affordable and sustainable long-term design solution.

• Does the National Trust have other saltmarsh restoration projects that they have worked on?

  Yes. In 1991 the first managed realignment in England was carried out at Northey Island. Moving the embankment further inland created 1 hectare (2.5 acres) of new saltmarsh. Two further realignments have now implemented at Northey in 2019 and 2023, creating 5ha (12 acres) of saltmarsh in the present day, which will grow to 7ha (17 acres) over the next century as sea level rises. Please visit the Northey Island web pages here for further information.

• Who will fund the project?

  The project to date has been jointly funded by the National Trust and the Environment Agency. Should we receive planning permission and other approvals from the South Downs National Park Authority and East Sussex County Council, we will be seeking external funding from a range of sources.

• How can local people get involved?

  Over the coming months, there will be a range of activities at the site, from bird monitoring sessions to creative sessions, to draw and learn about species at the site today and those that will visit in the future.

  This website will be kept up to date with information on public events. We are keen to get local people involved in learning and being involved in their local landscape.

• What is the timeline for the project?

  The project requires planning permission from the South Downs National Park Authority and East Sussex County Council. Planning applications have been submitted to these Local Planning Authorities for their determination. If planning permission is granted and other approvals are obtained the National Trust seeks to implement the project in 2026-2027.