How we made the Sompting Brooks Nature Trail:
The 'EPIC' Project
"EPIC" was our project name and it stood for "Enhancing Places, Inspiring Communities".
The Sompting Brooks Walk was created as part of the joint 'EPIC' project between Sompting Estate and the Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust, funded by the Heritage Lottery and others in 2019-2021. It has involved the community in bringing a new watercourse, walks and wildlife into Sompting's Church Farm, and it is managed by the Estate and the project's Volunteer River Rangers. Together we have recreated and manage 1km of the Broadwater Brook across Sompting Brooks, with beautiful natural habitat for wildlife and walkers to enjoy.
Teville Stream, which meets with the Broadwater Brook, was largely culverted since the Second World War. The Brook starts near West Street, Sompting and passed beneath GlaxoSmithKline in Southdown View Way, East Worthing, then through a culvert under the old landfill site at Decoy Farm.
The stream has been re-routed away from contaminating sources to make a clean water environment. A new nature trail has been opened up to make Broadwater Brook accessible to surrounding communities for the first time, The natural habitat has also been improved by the inclusion of two ponds, 1,000 trees, and 2.5km of new hedgerow.
Events have raised awareness of water conservation, pollution and urban wildlife. Activities involve practical conservation, photography, heritage investigations and educational programmes based on water quality and ecological surveying. Skill development workshops train volunteers who can help with the maintenance and management of the site into the future.
The funding was made possible by National Lottery players and awarded through the National Heritage Lottery Fund. From 2022 onwards, Sompting Estate and the Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust continue to support the ongoing management of the project, with the hugely important help of local community volunteers.