Love Our Ouse

06/06/2026

Join us as part of this packed programme on 19th June!

𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝: 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
A one-day symposium investigating Sussex’s traditional arts, crafts, cultures and music. Discover with artists, story-tellers, scholars, land-workers and policy-makers how diverse heritages and land, culture and water connect through walks, workshops, dancing, music and a site-specific play.

The day offers a timely investigation into the diversity of Sussex heritage and how the past can be used for progressive futures.

Director Matthew Bird will be speaking about the River Ouse Rights Charter at 5-6pm as part of the Rites, Rights and Sites panel discussion for Future Flourishing in Sussex and Beyond with Caroline Lucas, Libby Drew , Charlie Cain of Ranger and chaired by Chris Sandom.

Details and booking:
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/centre-for-life-history-and-life-writing-research/news-and-events/events?id=70242

04/06/2026

"The River who weaves the Land between us"

Our cockles have been truly warmed. We received this beautiful gift from Emilia Clarke - her exploratory book about her Trip to the Ouse integrating our work and the river's rights as part of her 3D Design & Craft at Brighton University degree.

The project was a self-directed project exploring our relationship to the Land. Rooted in her own connection to a River that runs through her hometown on Dartmoor she pulled on both intellect and intuition to question what it means to ‘get to know the Land’ and re-learn how to become indigenous to place.

Huge congratulations on becoming a graduate and thank you once again for this precious gift.

03/06/2026

Join us at the Wilder Ouse Conference!

Organised by the and The Southwood Foundation

Discover how landowners, parishes and communities can drive nature recovery. Talks, stalls and networking—26 June, Lewes Town Hall 9.30 - 4.30. FREE!

The Wilder Ouse Catchment Conference, is a chance to showcase resources and support for landowners, parishes and communities in how they can get involved in nature restoration. There will be opportunities to network, have open conversations and inspire new ideas. During the conference, there will be 12 talks from local charities and organisations presenting different support channels, while inspiring action from projects within the catchment. There will be exhibition stalls, so attendees can talk directly to a key organisation.

Bringing together stakeholders along the Ouse, to aid communication, work collaboratively and support one another in our goal to restore and protect nature along this incredible river catchment.

Booking essential: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wilder-ouse-catchment-conference-tickets-1985579237951

02/06/2026

Great Ouse news! 💧📣
Parish Councils across the Ouse catchment continue to endorse the Charter of Rights for the River! Huge appreciation to Ringmer Parish Council for joining the charge.

"𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑚𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑗𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑅𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑂𝑢𝑠𝑒. 𝐴𝑠 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑙, 𝑤𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑓𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠. 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑟𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑦 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑤𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑗𝑜𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑠, 𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡."

The council are currently supporting a community testing programme across Glynde Reach with Love our Ouse and partners Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust and Environment Agency.

They join Lewes Town Council, Rodmell Parish Council, Hamsey Parish Council, Barcombe Parish Council and Piddinghoe Parish Council since Lewes District Council and Wealden District Council supported the Charter in 2025. We will be offering Parish Council's across the valley a bespoke workshop to explore practical implementation and support resources in July.

Thank you to everyone for putting their river's health at the centre of policy, governance and their communities 👏🙌

https://loveourouse.org/rights-of-rivers/

28/05/2026

Melting hearts from the cuteness of young creatives as well as from the sun yesterday in Landport Community Garden Lewes (with Lewes Little Gardens) for our Ouse Family Fun Day! Thank you to everyone from the Landport Community that joined us despite the intense 🌞! 🙌

Amazing 🐟Mullet weaving skills - we made quite a shoal between us! Inventive 🐦Kingfisher, 🪽Seagull and 🦄Unicorn (that important river species!) masks. Ouse street art to highlight drain pollution and much cake and cooling drinks consumed with river chat and history.

Thank you Landport born and bred Michael Deacon for sharing your extensive fish knowledge, Landport Community Garden Lewes (with Lewes Little Gardens) staff for hosting us in that beautiful paradise garden (well worth visiting and getting involved!) and to our dedicated volunteers Imke and Liz for helping run the activities.

Thank you for supporting this project Ouse Valley Climate Action and The National Lottery Community Fund

26/05/2026

Reminder - tomorrow Wed 27th May!

Looking for ways to entertain your little minnows during half term?

Join us for a FREE River Ousey themed fun day for all the family on Wed 27th May 11-3pm in Landport, Lewes.

🐟Weave a willow Mullet (the fish - not the hair style!)
🐟River animal mask making
🐟Drain pollution street art
🐟Learn about the secrets of the Ouse past and present
🐟Refreshments - CAKE CAKE CAKE

Where? Landport Community Garden, Hayward Road, Lewes - look out for the bunting!

Who? Everyone welcome!

When? Drop in anytime between 11-3pm

How much? FREE FREE FREE

Thank you to Ouse Valley Climate Action and The National Lottery Community Fund for supporting this project and Landport Community Garden for hosting.

22/05/2026

School's out for half term! Landport Lewes - looking for ways to entertain your little minnows?

🌟Join us for a FREE River Ousey themed fun day for all the family on Wed 27th May 11-3pm 🌟

🐟Weave a willow Mullet (the fish - not the hair style!)
🐟River animal mask making
🐟Drain pollution street art
🐟Learn about the secrets of the Ouse past and present
🐟Refreshments and (hopefully) 🌞🌞🌞!

Where? Landport Community Garden, Hayward Road, Lewes - look out for the bunting!
Who? Everyone welcome!
When? Drop in anytime between 11-3pm
How much? FREE FREE FREE

Thank you to Ouse Valley Climate Action and The National Lottery Community Fund for supporting this project and to Landport Community Garden for hosting.

21/05/2026

Last October, 58 people from 35 organisations came together where the River Ouse meets the sea to explore a simple but powerful question: how do we turn the River Ouse Charter from principle into practice? 🌊

The Symposium was a partner project with Environmental Law Foundation and Moral Imaginations bringing together community groups, environmental organisations, councils, academics, water companies, artists and policymakers to share ideas, test solutions and imagine new ways of giving the river a voice in decisions that affect its future.

The enthusiasm, creativity and expertise in the room resulted in practical and realisable ideas for implementing the Ouse Charter and strengthening the relationship between people and river.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part, including the University of Sussex and King's College London students who helped facilitate the day.

Read the symposium report:
https://loveourouse.org/symposium-river-ouse-charter/

02/05/2026

It was an absolute pleasure for Love Our Ouse to take part in a workshop with Ofwat aimed at nature-centred governance and looking at the practical advantages of Rights of Rivers using the Sussex Ouse as a backdrop for the day.

It was really inspiring to explore the ways in which Rights of Rivers can progress opportunities for participatory decision making, create better policy integration and positively rebalance our relationship with nature.

Thank you so much to Emily Julier from for hosting and especially Amanda Johnson and Dr Andrew Staines at Ofwat for organising. Thanks also to Emma Montlake from , Josh Levene and Neil Williams from River Rights Network and Emily O'Brien from

02/05/2026

Dam it! What news for the Ouse valley!

Beavers recently released in Bowyers Wood, near Uckfield, have already made an "incredible" difference to its ecosystem, those responsible for the project have said.

More here: https://bbc.in/4sK9fVl