A local stream, the Lewes Winterbourne, that only flows during the winter months is an important habitat for wildlife inhabited by a diverse range of wildlife that have adapted to cope in a

stream with intermittent flows.

The wildlife in the Winterbourne includes plants such as water crowfoot and

fools watercress, a diverse range of insects and fish such as Brown Trout which

have all adapted to survive in a stream that flows only seasonally.

There have, unfortunately, been problems with people dumping litter, cans and

even garden rubbish into the Winterbourne and LDC is keen to encourage local

residents who witness fly-tipping to contact them as soon as possible.

The Environment Agency is installing a new trashscreen this week, which will

catch rubbish or debris that ends up in the stream. Andrew Gilham, Sussex Area

Flood Defence Manager for the Environment Agency said "Although the new

trashscreen is being installed to make it easier to remove debris which could

otherwise block the river, it is important that rubbish is not thrown into the river

in the first place. We have been working very closely with LDC in their efforts to

encourage local people to look after this stream that supports a variety of

wildlife in a unique habitat. The installation of the trashscreen, in Bell Lane

Recreation Ground started last Tuesday and will take about a week to complete.

This new trashscreen will help to reduce flood risk in the surrounding area by

reducing the possibility of blockages during periods of high river flow".

LDC has dealt with approximately 600

fly-tipping incidents in the last year

and residents who witness the illegal

dumping of any rubbish should contact

Customer Services Department on

01273 484999 or email

customer.services@lewes.gov.uk

Fly-tipping is illegal and the Council

urges people who live close to the

Winterbourne to let us know if they

witness someone dumping rubbish in

the stream. We would also like to hear from anyone if they see people flytipping

so that we can take the appropriate enforcement action.

If people have rubbish they wish to dispose of, that isn’t normal domestic waste

that can be re-cycled, composted or collected by the refuse collectors, they can

visit the Civic Amenity sites in Ham Lane, Lewes, Cradle Hill, Seaford or Lewes

Road, Newhaven.