The Levels

This is an open, expansive Levels is the largest wetland tract the River Rother, the mouth of which lies to landscape of grazed wet meadows, in East . This area and are the west. of international importance for wildlife and criss-crossed by reed filled have several designations in recognition of Historical impact of man ditches. This windswept landscape this. The landscape character is also young in historical terms. At the time of the Norman of wide skies with few trees and The Levels are the smallest area invasion in 1066 at Pevensey, much of the hedges is framed at Pevensey and and are surrounded by the built up area of area was still a tidal inlet which was used for Eastbourne against the dramatic the town. salt production. During the Middle Ages land began to be reclaimed to take advantage Landform and distinctive backdrop of the of the relatively fertile soils. Thus began a The Levels are a dynamic landscape which and at Rye and continuing effort to exploit the marsh. is very young in geological terms. Their the High . It formation is dominated by the changing Numerous drainage ditches were dug, inspires some of the most intense relationship between land and sea. The creating a checkerboard of irregular fields feelings of remoteness in south Levels are very low-lying with local landscape fringed with reeds. For centuries a pattern diversity added by ‘eyes’ – islands of high of summer grazing and winter flooding was east . ground. Both the Eastbourne- Pevensey maintained, the drainage ditches acting as Levels and and Rye Harbour areas were green fences. This continued until the 1960s Location tidal inlets and in Roman times all land when pump drainage was carried out and This landscape area is not continuous below 4m AOD was submerged at high tide. arable farming became more feasible. but occurs in three separate units: the In the Middle Ages the eastward drift of Aggregate extraction at Rye Harbour and Pett Eastbourne and the Pevensey Levels, and coastal shingle cut them off from the sea and has created a series of lagoons which are the Rye –Winchelsea area. All three areas are salt marsh developed. From then onwards of international importance as Rye Harbour low-lying and are bounded on the south side human influence on the drainage regime Nature Reserve. by the sea. was the dominant force in the creation of the The Pevensey Levels are surrounded by landscape of the Levels. Woodland Eastbourne, , and Bexhill. Camber Sands lie west of Rye Harbour The open windswept feel of The Levels is The Rye-Winchelsea area includes the and are the only sand dune system in enhanced by the lack of trees and hedges. Pett and Rye Harbour Levels and the most . This relatively narrow band The few trees are mainly Willow and western part of the Level east of dunes is slowly accreting and is formed Hawthorn, these are often dramatically of Rye. predominantly from sand brought down by windsculpted.

© ESCC 2016

The East Sussex County Landscape Assessment The Levels The Levels

Agriculture Remoteness Water resources: Abstraction, pumped The Levels are a large open landscape of These flat low lying landscapes have very drainage as opposed to gravity drainage and predominantly pasture with some arable in little tree cover, so the effects of disturbance pollution has had a marked effect on wetland drier areas. Cattle dominate to the west of are much more apparent. Fortunately much and riparian habitats. There has been a Rye Harbour with sheep in the east. of the Levels are well away from sources of large decrease in winter flooding resulting disturbance. This quiet simple landscape, in habitat decline for wetland birds. It has Other habitats and features. with wide skies, the cries of wetland birds also meant that the seasonal refertilisation In addition to grazing marsh The Levels and the sighing of the wind in the reeds can with alluvium has not occurred so arable have a number of open waterways and provide some of the most intense feelings of production is maintained by artificial reed filled waterways. Rye Harbour and Pett remoteness in . fertilizers. Nitrogen run–off and spray drift have lagoons and also substantial areas from arable areas is increasing. Physical of vegetated shingle. The dune system at Problems, pressure and change in changes to watercourses, to increase Camber is another special coastal habitat. the Levels discharge speed, mean that features such as meanders and shingle banks have been Settlement pattern and routeways Agriculture: The change to pump drainage removed, thus further degrading riparian The pattern of scattered settlements and arable agriculture has had a very habitats. and open roads reflects the history of detrimental effect on the natural ecology of land reclamation from wetland. Isolated the area. Modern agricultural buildings are Landscape Action Priorities for the Levels farmsteads are on higher ground or “eyes” particularly obvious in this open landscape. this can be seen in placenames with the The distinctive network of ditches should be suffix ’ey’ such as Manxey in Pevensey. Urban Influence Urban fringe problems: maintained and enhanced. Channels should Urban edges are highly visible in this open Roads tend to be slightly raised above the be less frequently and less intensively landscape. surrounding land forming visual striations in dredged. Water levels need to be maintained the landscape. Development: Pressure for expansion of and pollution should be controlled. surrounding towns is a particular issue. Encourage seasonal wetland flooding Historic features to create areas of damp pasture. Create Military fortifications are scattered across Recreation: Caravan sites, especially those at new reedbeds on land with low nature the area. Pevensey and Camber castles were Camber Sands, are prominent in such open conservation interest. the sites of Roman military bases. Pevensey landscape. The coast in general is subject was expanded by the Normans, and Camber to intense visitor pressure with the dunes Tree planting around farm buildings, by Henry VIII. Martello Towers from the at Camber, a vulnerable habitat, receiving settlements and caravan sites would help Napoleonic period are also evident. 20,000 visitors a day at the height of the minimise their effect on the open landscape. season. Other details Manage visitor pressure, diverting visitors Brick and flint buildings,weatherboarding away from vulnerable habitats. and tiles are characteristic. © ESCC 2016

The East Sussex County Landscape Assessment The Levels