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Welcome to our February newsletter, containing all the latest environmental news and updates from across West Sussex.
 A new 35‑mile section of the King Charles III England Coast Path has opened, giving walkers unprecedented access to the stunning coastline of Chichester Harbour. This stretch forms part of more than 220 miles of continuous coastal walking now available between Calshot and Rye Harbour. When complete, the national trail will span almost 2,700 miles, becoming the world’s longest managed coastal path.
The path represents a major step forward for our communities and our natural environment. Thanks to funding from Natural England and Defra, we’ve been able to improve paths around Chichester Harbour with better surfacing, clearer signage and new boardwalks, making the coastline more accessible than ever. As a National Trail, this route will boost local tourism, support wildlife, and give people the chance to explore beaches, dunes and cliffs that were previously out of reach. Importantly, the trail has been designed to adapt to coastal erosion, ensuring that public access to our beautiful shoreline is protected for generations to come.
Within West Sussex, the path showcases some of the county’s most treasured landscapes. From the natural beauty of Chichester Harbour to the sweeping sands of West Wittering. Notably, large expanses of saltmarsh and mudflats offer walkers the chance to spot seals and internationally important populations of birds that call the Solent’s coastline home, especially migratory winter visitors. One superb location for birdwatching is Thorney Island, which provides a quiet eight-mile loop around the island’s wild perimeter.
Video credit: © Natural England / Strong Island Media
 Contractors on site at Sack Lane in Bersted installing a temporary ramp over floodwaters.
The recent prolonged period of rain has caused flooding on some of our roads across the county. The unprecedented levels of rain mean water levels are high and drainage systems are overwhelmed.
It's a timely reminder of what you can do to keep yourself and your property safe.
Flooding can have a devastating impact on our communities, businesses, infrastructure, and environment. The rapid pace of climate change means that the likelihood and severity of flooding is increasing. West Sussex is affected by multiple sources of flood risk, from rivers, watercourses and the sea, to surface and groundwater.
To stay prepared, we encourage you to check for the latest flood warnings, sign up for free flood alerts by phone, text or email, and keep an eye on local conditions.
 New separate food waste collection services are being introduced across West Sussex, following new legislation introduced by central government.
Residents will be able to recycle food waste including tea bags, plate scrapings and crusts – even items that can’t be composted, like bones and cooked meat.
These collections can help highlight how much food is thrown away in UK households and support you to cut down on waste. Reducing food waste could also save you money by helping you buy only what you need and make the most of leftovers.
Find out more information on food waste recycling here, where you can also enter your postcode to find details for your area.
Food waste collections falls under the communities pathway in our Climate Action and Adaption Plan to support, enable, and inspire West Sussex partners, communities, and businesses to work together to address climate change.
 If you're looking for ways to travel more sustainably, taking the bus can be one of the simplest and most effective choices. Fewer cars on the road help lower carbon emissions, improve air quality and ease congestion. These small changes support a healthier environment for everyone.
As part of our wider work to improve bus travel across the county, we have been making changes that help improve everyday bus travel. These include:
- New and updated bus shelters, plus real-time information displays at bus stops.
- Enhanced bus lanes and traffic light priority for buses on busy routes.
- The introduction of Book a Bus, our flexible rideshare service
- Discounted bus fares for young people aged 16 to 20
- Strengthening travel links that help connect people to their communities and essential services.
Follow our journey and see the changes shaping bus travel across West Sussex.
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- On Clean Air Night (22 January) government launched a UK-wide consultation on the proposed measures to tackle domestic burning emissions. It's an opportunity for those concerned about the health impacts of air pollution from wood burning, to have their say on future government policies for domestic burning.
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Sussex’s universities and regional partners, including the county council have signed a new Civic University Agreement to jointly champion biodiversity, tackle the climate emergency, and promote sustainable practices across the county.
- One Carbon World are offering support via their Grant provision and Carbon Reduction Grant Funding to support organisations in calculating and offsetting carbon emissions.
If you have any questions, or want to share local climate action stories, email us at climatechange@westsussex.gov.uk.
Join our community of climate champions and add a new map pin to our Community Climate Action Map.
Passionate about your local environment? Do you know someone who would like this newsletter? Please forward it to them so they can sign up using the link below.
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