Lewes Railway Land Local Nature Reserve

Designated a L.N.R. in 1995 after a long battle to save the site from development, this site occupies a central location in the Lewes Town landscape. Nestling on the flood plain of the River Ouse, the site consists of 25 acres (60 acres including the adjacent flood plain grassland meadows, owned by a local farmer, and managed under Countryside Stewardship) of mixed habitats, including wet woodland, floodplain grassland, ponds and species rich drainage ditches, former fruit orchards and allotments, and scrub areas. The site was, until 1989, occupied by extensive railway sidings, and the embankment of the former Lewes - Uckfield railway line.

Within the woodland areas, once stood a large Victorian town house, the Leighside Estate. This contained formal gardens and landscaped fishponds. This area has now succeeded into a diverse woodland habitat, consisting of mainly Willow, Alder (in the wetter areas) and Sycamore, but interspersed with large railway Poplars and some exotic specimens, including a fantastic Holm Oak and Swamp Cyprus.

The range of habitats represented in this site, make it a rich resource for both biodiversity and opportunities for educational visits and research. We have a large variety of bird, mammal, terrestrial and aquatic plant species, and a nice variety of trees.

We have a restored signal box overlooking the flood plain meadows, which has doubled as a bird hide and a small class room.

This site is managed by Lewes District council and the Railway Land Wildlife Trust, including a Junior Management Board consisting of representatives of local schools.

There are a network of footpaths across the site, including a disabled access path which runs from the main entrance on railway Lane, to the Signal box, which also has wheel chair access.

The riverside footpath runs along the Ouse to Newhaven, some of which is a permissive right of way, so we would request users to keep dogs under control and close gates.

For the Railway Land and Meadowland insect survey, information board and leaflet, please see the relevant documents section below.

The Junior Management Board.
 
The Junior Management Board (JMB) is a management committee consisting of young people between the ages of 8 and 15, who meet regularly to discuss the management of the railway land from a young peoples perspective. The following video was made by the JMB in May 2008, as part of a Heritage Lottery Funded Project, which involved restoring a derelict pond on the site, and creating a water conservation campaign aimed at other young people. For more information, including how to get involved see the Railway Land Project Web site at www.railwaylandproject.org, or contact the District Councils Community Ranger.
 
Young Impact
A film by the Junior Management Board for the Lewes Railway Land Local Nature Reserve.