In March 2026, Seven Sisters became part of the Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve.
It meant that the 280 hectares of downland managed by the National Park Authority is now part of a much wider nature reserve covering 1,500 hectares from Seaford to Eastbourne.
The Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve is the UK’s first groundwater-inspired reserve of its kind and seeks to protect our drinking water, which filters through the chalk landscape of the South Downs.
The reserve includes chalk grassland, rare chalk heath, woodland, saltmarsh, scrubland, flood plains, an estuary and underwater chalk reefs.
The partners in the project are all bodies that own and manage land in the area. They are Eastbourne Borough Council, Forestry England, National Trust, Natural England, Seaford Town Council, South Downs National Park Authority, South East Water and Sussex Wildlife Trust.
The creation of the Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve allows greater collaboration between the organisations, helping to connect the matrix of habitats in the area through better landscape management.
A key goal of the partnership is to work closely with landowners and farmers to grow the National Nature Reserve to include more privately-owned land.
The work will include regenerative, nature-friendly farming to improve the soils, improving the quality of waterways and conservation grazing by sheep, ponies or cows to help the chalk grassland flourish.
The designation is part of the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves, creating a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy, appreciate and care for the natural world.
You can view the Seven Sisters NNR map here: Seven Sisters NNR map [PDF].
King Charles III launching the new National Nature Reserve