On the edge

CPRE Sussex column written for West Sussex Gazette, May 2026

The countryside isn’t always rolling hills and postcard landscapes.    

Often it is open paddocks, scrubland bustling with wildlife and winding river paths. 

This countryside on the edge of our towns and cities does quiet but incredibly important work. 

It supports wildlife. It sustains local food systems. It helps protect us from flooding and heat. 

It also helps us reset, providing respite from the pressures of modern life. 

But this same countryside is some of the most pressured and overlooked land in Sussex.   

As development pressures increase, the countryside on our doorstep is too often planned around – rather than planned for.  

Last month the national CPRE charity launched its On the Edge campaign.  

The campaign calls for every town and city to be surrounded by thriving and protected countryside.  

It received a publicity boost when the On the Edge Garden was awarded a prestigious Gold Medal at Chelsea Flower Show. 

Now, the campaign is focusing on raising awareness of every precious green space on the edges of where we live. 

That includes telling the stories of precious ‘edgelands’ right here in Sussex.  

CPRE has set up an interactive map – maps.cpre.org.uk – where you can share your stories.   

The stories already submitted showcase the variety of green spaces we have here in Sussex. 

There are tales of woodland adventures near Whiteways Lodge, birdwatching at Arundel Wetland Centre and enjoying the vital green lung at Greensward. 

Many of the stories share common themes. 

There are treasured childhood memories shared with the next generation and the sense of wellbeing which comes from being in nature. 

There is also an urgent and real desire to protect these precious green spaces. 

To do that, CPRE is calling for action on four key areas: 

1.  Value our edgelands: The fringes of our towns and cities need better planning, stronger protections and genuine investment not development by default. 

1. Fund and support edgeland farmers: Small-scale farmers and growers on the edges of towns need bespoke support to serve their communities. 

1. Give communities a stake: The people who live closest to these spaces know them best. Communities should have a real stake in how their local edgelands are used, protected and shaped. 

1. Protect our Green Belt: The Green Belt is being undermined and the most damaging aspects of current grey belt policy risk making things worse. 

You can read more about each of the actions at cpre.org.uk/on-the-edge/what-were-asking-for.  

Every town has its edgelands. Yet too often these spaces are loved but not recognised. 

Used by local communities but forgotten in national conversations about land.   

 And, too often, they are under pressure from development, climate impact and erosion of access.  

We believe these edgelands deserve more attention and imaginative solutions – for the people, communities and ecosystems that depend on them.  

To help protect the countryside on your doorstep in Sussex, add your name to the campaign at cpre.org.uk/on-the-edge.