News & Events
EGRETS WAY PHASE 6 - CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
EGRETS WAY PHASE 6 - RODMELL TO LEWES NOT FINISHED BUT OPEN FOR USE
As many of you may have already discovered, the construction of Phase 6 of the Egrets Way path running along the base of the riverbank between Rodmell and Lewes is approaching completion and was scheduled to be opened in October. Unfortunately, weather conditions have forced the contractors, Mackley Construction, to abandon this target and to withdraw from the site. They will be returning to complete the surfacing in spring 2024. The Environment Agency (EA) has essential engineering work to carry out at the Rodmell Pumping station through which the path runs. This work also cannot be carried out until next spring and, when it is underway, the Egrets Way path will be closed again until their work has been completed. Notice of this temporary closure will be provided.
However, the good news is that the path as currently surfaced has been deemed by Sustrans as safe for use. So we are pleased to confirm that, from now, the new Rodmell to Lewes section of the Egrets Way will be open and available for all, although not to a finished standard, so care should be taken. The route may not be suitable for road bikes. The formal opening of the path will be announced once the EA has completed their work and Mackley Construction have been able to return to the site to carry out the final surfacing on the path.
Finally, we would like to thank the residents of Rodmell for their forbearance for enduring months of construction trucks passing through the village and thank the landowners and funding partners for getting us to this point.
A PROGRESS UPDATE MAY 2023
At the end of 2022 we had very little good news to report to supporters of the Egrets way.
The route from Newhaven to Piddinghoe was beset with delays caused by bad weather, concerns about the access to the dismount section on top of the river bank near Piddinghoe Pond, the need to identify and secure an alternative route and, of course, COVID. In addition, work on the path from Rodmell to Lewes had to be halted due to ground failure on the route along which the construction vehicles had to pass.
However, we are pleased to report that the situation in 2023 is now vastly improved.
The construction of the route from Riverside Park in Newhaven to the entrance of the Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club in Piddinghoe (Phase 5) has been completed and is open to all users. And, work on the 6th phase of path construction, which will run parallel to the river bank for 3 km. from Rodmell to Ham Lane in Lewes, is scheduled to restart next week with an estimated completion date in October.
In addition, we also want to make everyone aware of the newly constructed bridleway which runs from Iford to Swanborough Lakes where it meets the existing permissive path leading to the Egrets Way route at Spring Barn Farm in Lewes. This permissive path, which has been built by the Iford Estate with CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) funding provided by Lewes District Council and the South Downs National Park, has created a 6 kilometre continuous circular route comprised of sections of the Egrets Way, Bridleway 13 and other existing permissive paths. The Egrets Way route map is currently being revised in order to reflect recent changes and will be published on our website as soon as available.
We have plans in hand to apply to Lewes District Council for further CIL funding to enable improvements to sections of Bridleway 13 which become impassable for many users during wet weather.
Finally, we are planning to announce an event to celebrate the opening of the Riverside Park to Piddinghoe route later this year, so, all in all, a much more optimistic picture for 2023.
We will update you as these plans progress.
PAPERS FOR AGM 2022
NOTICE OF THE EGRETS WAY AGM 2022
Our Annual General Meeting for 2021-2022 will be held online using Zoom. This is an option approved by the Charity Commission.
The AGM will be held on TUESDAY 21st FEBURARY 2023 at 6.30pm.
You are welcome to attend and if you wish to do so, please email chair@egretsway.org.uk by 14th February and we will send you the access link.
The Agenda, Annual Report and Financial Statement will be published on the website on 7th February
EGRETS WAY CHRISTMAS PRESENT DELAYED (2022)
Since we last wrote about the construction of this new section of path from Riverside Park in Newhaven to The Street in Piddinghoe (Egrets Way Phase 5), the weather has done its best to make it a challenge to get it completed before Christmas. However, we remained optimistic that the route would be open for use by now.
Unfortunately, the relentless downpours in November and frozen ground in December have prevented the contractor from completing the final surfacing work that is required.
Sadly, despite the best efforts of all involved in the completion of the works on the new path, the weather has continued to thwart our hopes of it being open for use during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
So, we will continue to make every effort to complete the surfacing of the route as quickly as is practical and will announce the opening of the newest section of the Egrets Way network as soon as it is ready for use in the New Year.
EGRETS WAY PHASE6 WORKS BEGUN AND THEN SUSPENDED - 22nd October 2022
Mackley, the project construction company, began work on the Rodmell to Iford section (Phase 6) of the Egrets Way riverside route in late September. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen complications, construction work on the route has now had to be suspended for the remainder of this year.
Ground failure has occurred at the narrowest section of the route, which all construction vehicles and materials have to pass through. The ground between the bank and the dyke consists of dense and wet clay which has become deeply rutted and deteriorated to such a degree that there is a critical risk of vehicles sliding or overturning into the nearby water course.
An engineering solution is required to stabilise the track at the pinch point before safe access for construction vehicles can be restored.
Design engineers from Sustrans and the site contractor, Mackley, have begun ground investigation surveys to inform engineering design proposals, including mitigation measures to protect the nearby water course which falls within the Lewes Brooks SSSI. The engineering solution will be developed in consultation with an ecologist, Natural England [i] and the Environment Agency, and is likely to take a minimum of eight weeks.
Once the final design specifications are approved, the stabilising works required before construction can begin again, will need to be authorised by Natural England and the Environment Agency. This is expected to take a further eight to ten weeks. We anticipate that the stabilising works will commence in Spring 2023 and the construction of Egrets Way Phase 6 will follow straight on.
On a separate, and more encouraging note we are pleased to report that the construction of Egrets Way Phase 5 from Piddinghoe to Newhaven is on schedule to be completed and opened before Christmas.
[i] Natural England are responsible for the Lewes Brooks Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - The water filled ditches are home to rare amphibians and beetles and the wet meadows provide nesting sites and important feeding stations for bird life.
THE EGRETS WAY RIVERSIDE ROUTE IS BACK ON TRACK - September 2022
It has been many months since the construction of the Egrets Way shared path between Newhaven and Piddinghoe was paused when a potential structural problem was identified regarding the section of the intended route running alongside the riverbank. It has taken considerable time to identify and agree a new route, we are very pleased to announce that construction of the newly approved section of path is about to begin.
Starting at the northern end of the already completed section of path in Riverside Park, the new section will continue north below the riverbank until it reaches the Newhaven & Seaford Sailing Club (NSSC) land. It will then turn left onto the existing track, which is the subject of a Public Order to be designated a Right of Way (technically a ‘Restricted Byway’) and continue through the NSSC carpark and then along the unmetalled track to meet The Street.
These new sections of path will be surfaced with limestone dust, which is similar to the existing section in Riverside Park and other surfaced sections of the Egrets Way. The access track between the NSSC carpark and The Street will remain unsurfaced at the request of local landowners, except for minor repairs, to encourage all users to travel at low speeds when passing the stables and entering the carpark.
The contractor, Edburton, is already on site and is aiming to have completed the work by Christmas.
Once again, we must express our appreciation for the help and co-operation which we have received over the past several months from the private landowners involved, representatives of the South Downs National Park, Sustrans, Piddinghoe Parish Council and, in particular the members of the Board of the NSSC.
We will keep you informed about progress.
Progress Report, April 2022
With the Egrets Way Project now in its eleventh year, we believe that we are well on our way to completing construction of the riverside route linking Lewes and Newhaven.
While the arrival of COVID-19 in Spring, 2020 undoubtedly slowed our progress, we have had some significant successes to celebrate which we would like to share with you:
Opening of a new section (Phase 4), which runs through the Lewes Railway Land Wildlife Trust to Ham Lane, forming the northern start of the riverside route.
Securing funding for the Newhaven to Piddinghoe section of the route (Phase 5) where construction is well under way and the section of the path through Riverside Park has now been completed.
Securing legal agreements that will allow construction of the riverside path from Lewes to Rodmell (Phase 6).
Receiving a major grant from Highways England (now National Highways), which together with significant contributions from LDC and SDNPA Community Infrastructure Levy funds, and a generous private donor, will allow construction of Phase 6 to get underway this year.
Then in July, 2021, another important link to the Egrets Way Network was created. This undertaking was initiated by the Ramblers Association, who claimed the route as a ‘Lost Byway,’ and, with the agreement of the Iford Estate, a bridleway linking the village of Iford to Rise Farm in Lewes was dedicated as a new Right of Way, open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders. We subsequently worked with local equestrian groups and charities to raise funds to pay for the gates and fencing required to keep users safe from farm livestock.
The bridleway is 2 miles long and roughly half of it is surfaced. The rest is suitable for cycling in dry weather but we are hoping to see the unsurfaced stretches improved once the construction of the Phase 6 route is completed.
Finally, while COVID restrictions have clearly delayed our delivery targets, they have at the same time had a positive effect on the numbers of people seeking outdoor exercise in the countryside. For example, our data collected from automatic counters on the route between Southease Bridge and Dean’s Farm, Piddinghoe shows that annual user numbers have almost trebled from nearly 13,000 when it opened in 2017 to well over 37,000 in 2021.
Agenda and papers relating to the 2021 AGM
NOTICE OF THE EGRETS WAY AGM 2021
Due to a number of issues relating to Covid-19 we have decided to hold our Annual General Meeting online using Zoom. This is an option approved by the Charity Commission.
The AGM will be held on WEDNESDAY 24th NOVEMBER at 6.30pm.
You are welcome to attend and if you wish to do so, please email chair@egretsway.org.uk by 19th November and we will send you the access link.
The Agenda, Annual Report and Financial Statement will be published on the website on 3rd November.
Update on Construction of the Egrets Way - Newhaven to Piddinghoe Route
You may remember that we sent you an announcement at the beginning of September which stated that the construction of the Newhaven to Piddinghoe route was scheduled to begin on Monday, the 6th of September and that signs warning visitors to Riverside Park that access would be limited because of the construction had been posted.
Since that announcement, for various reasons which could not be anticipated and which were consistently beyond our control, the start of construction has been delayed several times from one week to the next and with little or no warning.
However, we are now pleased to announce that construction has finally begun this week and to produce photographic evidence that this is now taking place.
We will now undertake to keep you informed of progress, both with notices posted at the construction site and updates when construction milestones have been achieved and a new completion date agreed.
The Egrets Way Project arrives in Newhaven – at last!
In the 10 years since the Egrets Way Project began, progress has been slower than we and many of our supporters would have liked. And we have to admit that it has taken some time to design, consult, plan, fund and build the 5 miles of the network which were already in use by Spring, 2020.
And then came COVID-19.
However, we are pleased to announce that, on Monday the 6th of September, 2021, construction will finally begin on the delayed Newhaven to Piddinghoe route. This path will run alongside the riverbank from Riverside Park in Newhaven to the north of Piddinghoe where, to avoid travelling along the C7, users will have to cross the road, travel 300m up Harping Hill and take the bridleway down to Chapel Barn and across the C7 to where the Egrets Way path heads north to Southease. If all goes to plan, this new route will be open for use well before the end of the year.
We realise that the work being done in Riverside Park may cause some inconvenience to regular Park users but we and the contractors are doing all we can to ensure that this will be kept to a minimum and hope that, when the path is completed, everyone will agree that it was worth the wait. (See notice below)
July 2021 - The Egrets Way Celebrates a New Addition
More than a year has passed since the route through the Railway Land Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve to Ham Lane was completed and opened for use despite the planned opening celebration having to be cancelled. Since then, it may seem that little or no progress has been made toward the completion of the project. However, behind the scenes a great deal of work has been going on and we are now able to announce the addition of a new bridleway to the Egrets Way network of shared paths.
This new public Right of Way runs from the village of Iford on Iford Estate land to Rise Farm in Lewes. It is just over 2miles long and winds through open farm land in the Ouse Valley with wonderful views in all directions. It meets Cockshut Lane just to the north of Rise Farm and from there the Egrets Way runs west to Kingston and Swanborough and east to the Linklater Centre via Ham Lane and is another step toward achieving our primary goal of connecting Lewes, Newhaven and the villages in between. (See map below)
Creation of this new route is largely due to the initiative taken by Chris Smith of the Sussex Ramblers who identified the route as a potential ‘Lost Byway’ and applied to East Sussex County Council Rights of Way for it to be added to the Definitive Map (the legal record of Rights of Way). Thanks to the Iford Estate agreeing to dedicate the route without any formal decision on the application and an effective collaboration between the Estate, the Ramblers and the ESCC Rights of Way team, this new route has now been created.
Most of the route follows an existing permissive path previously only available to walkers, but now cyclists and horse riders will be able to enjoy a similar experience
There are still a few matters to be dealt with: gates and fencing required to protect livestock and users, as well as new signage, are being funded by contributions from the Egrets Way Project, the British Horse Society, the Mid-Sussex Bridleways Group, Iford Parish and the South Downs National Park Authority. The bridleway surface will remain as a farm track with some sections of the route unsurfaced and therefore likely to be muddy during wet weather.
While the bridleway is legally available for use, many may wish to wait until the fencing and other planned work has been carried out. We will let you know when these improvements are in place.
And keep a lookout for further updates on progress with the Egrets Way at both ends of the river route which will be coming soon.
April 2021 - Good News for the Egrets Way Project
Yesterday the revised planning application for the consolidation of farming activities at Iford Farm was given unanimous approval by the Planning Committee of the South Downs National Park Authority. One of the conditions attached to this consent is a legal agreement that gives the permission of the Iford Estate for the construction of a 2 km section of the Egrets Way Network on Estate land. Specifically, this will enable the Egrets Way shared, multi-user path to extend the current Southease to Rodmell section path all the way to Ham Lane in Lewes running below the bank of the river Ouse.
We have long been in discussion with the owner of the Iford Estate regarding this request and have always understood that landowner permission would be granted at the appropriate time for both organisations. Today’s planning decision has now paved the way for the process of obtaining the landowner’s legal agreement and initiating the technical and engineering work that must precede the start of actual construction.
This process will take some time as there is much to be done but, once this 6th phase of the path is constructed, the Egrets Way riverside route will finally connect the towns of Lewes and Newhaven with links to the communities of Kingston, Swanborough, Iford, Rodmell and Piddinghoe.
It is a source of great satisfaction that this key development has now taken place in what is the 10th year of the Egrets Way Project.
October 2020 - Good News from Highways England
We learned yesterday that the Egrets Way Project is one of the 650 projects which will benefit from Highways England’s planned £140M investment in major roads across the home counties and the south coast.
In their recent press release, Highways England said that roads across the region will benefit from planned enhancements, with road resurfacing, bridge joint replacements, the creation of cycle lanes, improved signage and landscaping all set to take place. They then included in their list of schemes: “A26 Beddingham (Egrets Way): a partnership scheme for an off-road cycle link between Newhaven and Lewes”.
We have been in discussion with Highways England for some time about the advantages which would accrue to both organisations if we were to join forces to complete the Lewes to Newhaven route and this announcement is evidence that we will now be working together for that purpose.
In response to the Highways England press release, together with the South Downs National Park Authority, we have now issued this joint statement to the Sussex Express:
South Downs National Park Authority and Egrets Way Project Joint Statement
Allison Thorpe, Access and Recreation Lead for the South Downs National Park Authority, said: “Egrets Way is an exciting partnership project to give cyclists and walkers year-round access to the heart of the beautiful Ouse Valley in the South Downs National Park.
“We’re delighted with the announcement of this funding boost from Highways England to support the next phase of the project. As there will remain a shortfall, fundraising will continue for this important next phase, which will bring us closer to our goal of a sustainable, traffic-free route between Lewes and Newhaven.
“The success of the project to date has been the result of collaborative working between a number of organisations across the area, not least The Egrets Way Charity which has been a driving force since the project’s inception.”
Neville Harrison, Chair of the Egrets Way Project, said ‘This is tremendous news we have been hoping for, and another step towards completing an ambitious community led project initiated some nine years ago’
We will keep you informed as this joint project develops but, in the meantime, we wanted to make you aware of this latest step forward toward our goal of creating a network of safe, shared routes in the Lower Ouse Valley for everyday and recreational use.
2020 AGM - Papers
Papers for the 2020 AGM are presented below
2019 Annual Report
Please find the final report for the year 2019 in the button below
EGRETS WAY PROJECT UPDATE – APRIL 2020
Although we had to cancel the planned event on 22nd March at the Railway Land to celebrate the official opening of the newest section of the Egrets Way, we don’t want to leave you with the impression that all work on the Project has been stopped as a result of the COVID19 restrictions on movement and close contact.
The new Ham Lane to Linklater route, referred to above, is now in use, as is the extension of the path from Spring Barn Farm to Swanborough. So if you are fortunate enough to live within walking or cycling distance of these and other sections of the Egrets Way, do make use of them for your permitted daily exercise, while, of course, observing the Government’s physical distancing rules.
Work is also continuing on several other aspects of the project.
With funding in place for the construction of the next section of pathway, from Riverside Park in Newhaven to the north of Piddinghoe, the process of drawing up legal agreements with local landowners and developing a detailed construction specification is underway.
We have recently received notice of a grant from the South Downs National Park Trust which will enable us to update our printed information leaflets, to purchase path maintenance tools and to collect network usage information.
And we are awaiting a decision in regard to another grant application which, if successful, will make a major contribution toward the total amount required to construct the next phase of the network.
Finally, we have tentatively scheduled our AGM event for Tuesday September 8th when South Downs National Park Ranger, Dan Oakley, will give a talk on our ‘Dark Night Skies’.
So, while the timing of some of these activities may be extended, the Egrets Way Project is by no means stalled. We will keep you up to date with the AGM and other developments.
Meanwhile, if you have access to the completed parts of Egrets Way, do use and enjoy them whilst exercising responsibly in the lovely spring weather.
Celebration Event Postponed
In view of the government’s evolving advice about holding public events, it has been decided that the joint celebration planned for Sunday the 22nd of March to mark the opening of the Egrets Way path and the Bird Hide at the Railway Land Nature Reserve will be postponed.
However, the new path is open for cyclists and walkers to enjoy
News Update - March 2020 - The Egrets Way now runs to and through the Lewes Railway Land Nature Reserve - POSTPONED
We are pleased to announce that the construction of the newest section of the Egrets Way network of shared paths has now been completed and that an opening celebration based at the Linklater Centre will be held on Sunday the 22nd of March from 2-5pm.
This new path, which is available to all non-motorised users, extends the existing Egrets Way route from Ham Lane near the entrance to the Lewes Recycling Centre. It is 800 metres long and runs through a section of privately owned land before passing under the railway line and continuing through the Railway Land where it ends at Railway Lane near the centre of Lewes. The funding for its construction was provided by the South Downs National Park, the EU Rural Enterprise (LEADER) Fund, Lewes Town Council and private donations made to the Egrets Way project.
This ‘Signalling Spring’ event is being held in conjunction with the Railway Land Wildlife Trust who are, at the same time, celebrating the opening of their newly refurbished and repurposed Signal Box which has been transformed into a Wildlife Hide. This will provide the opportunity for Railway Land visitors to enjoy panoramic views of the beautiful water meadows which are home to a host of wildlife. A loft has also been built into the Hide to encourage bats to roost and nesting boxes have been fixed to the exterior to encourage swifts and swallows to roost there. Cyclists will be able to use the dismounting point which is alongside the Hide.
This joint celebration is intended to make people aware of the improved accessibility which the widened and sensitively surfaced route provides for users of all ages and capabilities.
There will be a range of family-friendly activities on offer for everyone attending the celebration.
News Update February 2020 - latest construction phase completed…!
We are pleased to announce that the construction of latest phase of the Egrets Way has now been completed. This new route is the most recent addition to the Egrets Way network of paths which will, when completed, connect Newhaven, Lewes and the villages in the Lower Ouse Valley.
The path, which will be available to all non-motorised users, is an extension of an existing section of Egrets Way pathway which originally terminated on Ham Lane near the entrance to the Lewes Recycling Centre. It almost 1km long and runs through a section of privately owned land before passing under the railway line and continuing through the Railway Land where it ends at the Linklater Centre.
The funding for its construction was provided by the South Downs National Park, the EU Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (LEADER) Fund, Lewes Town Council and private donations made to the Egrets Way project. An event to celebrate its opening is currently being planned and will be announced in the few weeks.
Please see the pictures below for inspiration…
Supporting the Egrets Way Project (December 2019)
The Egrets Way has been accepted as one of the Good Causes which will be able to benefit from the new Lewes District Local Lottery starting with the first prize draw on the 14 December. This means that when registered supporters of the Egrets Way buy a £1 lottery ticket via the link shown below, 50p will automatically go to supporting the ongoing costs of the project.
If you would like to participate in the Lottery, which will have monthly draws and prizes ranging from £25 to £25,000, all you need to do is use the link below to register as an Egrets Way supporter, click JOIN IN NOW, select Egrets Way and buy your tickets.
We will receive monthly reports about the amount our supporters have contributed and will let you know how the funds will be put to use.
https://www.leweslocallottery.co.uk/
More Good News for the Egrets Way Project (November 2019 update)
For the second time in a fortnight, members of the Egrets Way Project team have been given good reason to celebrate.
Having received a grant of £250,000 from Lewes District Council's Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds at the end of October, we have now been informed that our bid for an additional £113,000 of CIL funds from the South Downs National Park Authority has been approved.
Together, these grants will now make it possible to get work started on the route from Newhaven to Piddinghoe early in the new year. The required planning permission and landowners' agreements in principle for allowing access to their land along the River Ouse had already been secured in early 2019. These had to be in place for bids to be submitted to both Authorities for CIL funding.
Now the process of securing formal legal agreements from the landowners and developing the construction specification may begin. If all goes well, the Egrets Way network of routes will have an additional 1.1km of surfaced path in 2020.
GOOD NEWS , NOT JUST FOR CYCLISTS
Project Update – Autumn 2019
The community-led Egrets Way Project, which has now been underway since August, 2011 was started by a group of local residents seeking an alternative to cycling between Lewes and Newhaven on the busy C7 road. Our vision was and remains a network of safe, shared paths for cyclists and walkers running largely alongside the river and linking to villages, amenities and other paths in the Lower Ouse Valley.
Throughout the intervening years there have been many challenges to be met, including identifying suitable and acceptable routes, securing planning permissions, obtaining the consent of dozens of landowners for access to their land and, of course, acquiring the necessary funding to pay for the construction of the network.
To date we have managed to meet many of those challenges:
The Route: In 2011 we commissioned Sustrans to undertake a feasibility study of our proposed riverside route, utilising where practical suitable existing pathways. From the beginning we anticipated that the network would have to be built in a piecemeal fashion as funding became available and landowner consents were obtained.
Planning Permission: To construct a new path in the countryside requires the approval of the local Planning Authority. Planning permission for the first section to be constructed was granted in 2012. Approval for a bridleway section from Rodmell to Southease Bridge was granted in 2013 and an application for the remainder of the riverside route was approved in 2014. Subsequently there have been changes to the route through Piddinghoe and an extension of the route from Ham Lane running to the Linklater Pavilion in Lewes, both requiring new planning applications. Also, in 2018, a planning application submitted by the Iford Estate, for the purpose of extending the existing Egrets Way route from Spring Barn Farm to the Swanborough Lakes Holiday Lodges and the village of Swanborough, was approved.
Landowner Consent: The route of the Egrets Way network requires access to the land of several dozen landowners, including private individuals, businesses, local councils, the Environment Agency and Network Rail. Consent has been sought on an individual owner basis as each section of the route was being considered for construction and formal agreements have been secured for us by Sustrans before any work could begin. To date, landowner consent has been forthcoming in all locations.
Funding: So far we have raised more than £1.5M in order to build 8km of path in 4 phases. The funds have come from UK government (Department for Transportation), the EU (Rural Development funds), the South Downs National Park Authority, East Sussex County Council, Lewes Town Council, Newhaven Town Council, the Chalk Cliff Trust, the Chapman Charitable Trust, Waitrose Community Matters, the Lewes Fund via the Sussex Community Foundation, the Jo Holden Trust and private individuals.
We are optimistic that 2019 will prove to be the year when the pace of building the network began to accelerate as there are two new routes currently under construction, Ham Lane to the Linklater Pavilion and Spring Barn Farm to Swanborough, both of which are nearing completion. And, unexpectedly, there is the prospect of a 1.5km bridleway running through the Iford Estate from Rise Farm to the village of Iford. If all goes to plan, this route will eventually be available for use by walkers, cyclists, mobility vehicle users, and equestrians.
In addition, we have just been notified that a funding application submitted in conjunction with the South Downs National Park to Lewes District Council (Community Infrastructure Levy) in order to enable us to construct the route from Newhaven to Piddinghoe (phase 5) has been be successful. This, together with funds we are hoping to secure from another source in the near future, would enable us to start working toward getting this done in 2020.
While there is still much to be done, these recent developments have given us confidence that our aim to complete the network in the next few years can be realised. So please bear with us and continue your support of the Egrets Way Project.
Once again, it has to be stated that none of this could have been achieved without the consistent support which the Egrets Way Project has received from local communities, landowners, councillors, Sustrans, and our key partner, the South Down National Park, as well as the many organisations and individuals who have provided both encouragement and financial support.
July 2019 Egrets Way Art Trail
The Egrets Way Art Trail will take place during the last two weeks of August from the 17th August to the 1st September and offers an enjoyable, inspiring and memorable experience for everyone.
Egrets Way inspired artwork will be exhibited in beautiful Ouse valley art venues accessible by walking or cycling via the Egrets Way shared riverside path. Art venue locations are marked on the new Egrets way map and full listing details can be found on the Artwave website at http://www.artwavefestival.org
The new Egrets Way Art Trail instagram site www.instagram.com/egretswayart shows some of the artworks that will be exhibited - many have been made especially for the event. The instagram site will be updated regularly, please follow the instagram link above.
The following Egrets Way Art Trail events can be booked directly by contacting the sites below:
Cycle Rides:
http://www.cycleseahaven.org.uk/egrets-way-art-trail-rides
http://www.facebook.com/CycleLewes
Artwalk: http://www.jackymisson.com
Print Workshop: www.bip-Art.co.uk
The Newhaven Festival runs alongside the Artwave Festival and details can be found at www.newhavenfestival.co.uk
The Egrets Way Art Trail also has a lovely instagram site which is available following the link at the top of the page.
May 2019 - Agenda and Papers relating to the 2019 AGM
April 2019 AGM Announcement
THE EGRETS WAY AGM
MONDAY 10TH JUNE 2019 at 7.0 pm
ST JOHN SUB CASTRO LEWES
Following the meeting, an illustrated talk about the female founders of the RSPB will be given, hosted by Tessa Boase, author of Mrs Pankhursts Purple Feather.
November 2018, Press Release
Progress on the Egrets Way is captured in the press release made available on the SDNP website, the text copied below;
From early summer 2019, a new section of the Egrets Way network of shared paths will be available to people to walk and cycle to Lewes. This path will run for nearly a kilometre from the existing path at Ham Lane, passing under the railway and continuing into Lewes Railway Land Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve and on to the Linklater Pavilion close to the town centre.
The funding for this project comprises a £75,000 LEADER grant from the Rural Development Programme for England, £78,000 from the South Downs National Park Authority and £23,000 from S106 money allocated to Lewes Town Council. A further £20,000 comes from the Community Infrastructure Levy and donations from the Joe Holden Trust and the Egrets Way Project Trust.
The delivery of this new route will be jointly managed by a project team made up of representatives from the SDNPA, Sustrans and the Egrets Way Project Trustees.
With planning permission for the new section of trail already secured, construction work will begin early in the New Year. An existing path, which runs from the Linklater Centre through the nature reserve is to be widened and connected to the new section of path to be built from Ham Lane.
When completed the Egrets Way will form a network of multi-user paths running from Lewes to Newhaven and connecting the villages in between. Nearly half of the planned network has been built and is in use, with sections of pathway running between Lewes and Kingston, Southease and Rodmell, and Southease and Piddinghoe. More information is available on the new Egrets Way website www.egretsway.org.uk
Alister Linton-Crook, Cycling Project Officer for the South Downs National Park and a member of the Egrets Way Project Steering Committee, said:
“We’re excited to get started on the next section of the Egrets Way – getting us a step closer to our ambitions for safe and traffic-free access between the towns and villages of the Lower Ouse Valley for walkers and cyclists.
Neville Harrison, Chair of the Egrets Way Project Trustees, said:
“We always knew that creating the Egrets Way would take time, with sections being built as funding opportunities arose and landowner agreements were secured, so it is wonderful to put into place another piece of the jigsaw. We are very grateful to all of our funders and landowners without whose support the realisation of the Egrets Way would not be possible.”
The LEADER scheme is part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
There’s a lot more that’s been happening since our AGM in April so we have produced this INTERIM REPORT to bring our news section up-to-date
The Report covers PLANNING, FUNDING, NEW LINKS, PATH MAINTENANCE, VOLUNTEERS, SHARED PATHS and can be read following the link below;