Your Community on the Downs – Your chance to make a difference

Mend a fence, inspire the young, identify a plant, create an event…
Have you heard of the Steyning Downland Scheme, or maybe you’ve come to the Big Picnic, or another event?

We have some exciting developments ahead – we have become a registered charity, and the Wiston Estate are leasing the Horseshoe and the Rifle Range to the scheme in 2011. This is a unique opportunity for local people to take responsibility for a very special 160 acres, stewarding it for current and future generations.

The Steyning Downland Scheme (SDS) runs in partnership with the Wiston Estate, A Rocha UK and interested local people. It seeks to engage the local community, and young people in particular, in enhancing the natural beauty of their surroundings, for the benefit of the community, the land and its wildlife.
Launched in 2007, the SDS has become a vibrant and varied project, working with many people who already enjoy the area, and hosting events such as Bushcraft Days, Art Days and the Dawn Chorus Breakfast. There is a lot of conservation interest on the area, with a very distinctive mix of threatened species and habitats. SDS is about loving our local environment, connecting with it and each other as we do so.

The objectives of the scheme are:
• To conserve wildlife and enhance the landscape by promoting and protecting natural downland habitat.

• To engage young people and the wider community in project decision-making and practical development work.

• To promote a greater understanding amongst local land users of their impact on each other and on local wildlife.

• To enable local people to use the area for their enjoyment and wellbeing, through personal or community activities that are life-enhancing.

Four years on, we are celebrating our achievements so far, and inviting your thoughts and questions about the future. Come to the Steyning Centre on February 10th at 7.30 to find out more about the scheme.

We are also looking for volunteers who can help with or take responsibility for one off needs, and those who can give a more regular commitment.

For example:
• Maintenance, Researching some of the history of the site.
• Surveying the plants or any wildlife interest you have.
• Supporting the conservation of a particular area.
• Putting up marquees, Fundraising, Developing an education resource pack,
• Working with young people, Marketing.
• Organising/helping at an event.
• Being on the steering group.
• Being a Trustee.

And there may be something that you would like to do which we have not thought of yet – we would love to hear from you! To find out more about the scheme, come to the SDS Information Evening. The Steyning Centre, Thursday February 10th, 7.30 – 9.00. Refreshments from 7.00

Or contact Bryony Webb on bryony@wistonestate.co.uk, 01903 812129
www.steyningdownland.org

A place to enjoy, a place to protect, a place to be proud of

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