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19 October 2025 - Birding safari with Tony Benton of Shoreham District Ornithological Society
We had a full turn out of humans and a canine supporter called Luna for our walking safari last Sunday morning with SDOS birding expert Tony Benton. https://sdos.org/
The sun couldn’t quite break through the anti-cyclonic grey skies, but the SSSI was busy with birdlife. We saw quite a few Greenshank, Lapwings and the usual Herring, Black-Headed and Greater Black-Backed gulls as we walked up to Cuckoo Corner, where skylarks still danced in the adjacent fields. Those of us who walked back down the West Bank to the carpark were rewarded with a glimpse of the elusive Kingfisher. Thanks to Amanda Glinsman for photograph of the Kingfisher in its hunting spot. Check out that spectacular beak - designed by nature to enter the water at speed without causing a single splash.
10 October 2025 - Wellbeing walk with Esteem Youth Group
On Friday afternoon we enjoyed a nature and wellbeing walk in the SSSI with the lovely humans from Esteem youth group in Shoreham https://esteem.org.uk/
The river flowed out into the harbour as we wandered upstream from Rope Tackle towards the Toll Bridge in appreciation of the estuary and its special habitat. We saw Mute Swans, Little Egrets, a few Turnstones, a Redshank and plenty of Black-Headed Gulls - surprisingly absent were the Black-Backed Gulls - maybe they'll be there next time.
It was great to show some local young people how beneficial a walk in nature can be and we hope this is the start of a lasting partnership.
September 2025 - Water Quality Monitoring
We understand that water quality is a key concern of many of you and we are investigating the viability of citizen science testing programmes within the SSSI. As an estuary with inflows as well as outflows and many different points at which contaminants can reach the river, this makes water quality testing very difficult but we hope to be able to involve many of you in helping with this in the coming year. Let us know if you're interested, or watch out for updates.
In the meantime, we joined almost 8000 people up and down the country who tested water quality over the weekend of 19-22 September as part of EarthWatch's Great UK WaterBlitz. Tests were undertaken at Adur Rec and Cuckoo Corner and at both sites nitrate and phosphate levels were low.
July 2025 - Installation of buoys in the RSPB reserve
Many of you will already have seen that five buoys have been installed in the RSPB reserve which is part of the SSSI. These buoys have been put in place to deter paddleboarders, kayakers and other water craft users from entering the RSPB reserve. Many paddlers simply don't know the area is an RSPB reserve and despite extensive attempts to get the message out there, paddlers were still a problem.
We are delighted to report that almost all paddlers now avoid the area and it just goes to show that most users of the river care about the wildlife too - we just need to let everyone know how important the area is.
The buoys were installed by the RSPB with generous funding from Sussex Ornithological Society, Shoreham District Ornithological Society and some private donations.
14 July 2025 - School Safari
On a blustery Monday morning we welcomed 57 Key Stage 2 (7-8 years olds) from Swiss Gardens Primary School for a walk around the SSSI.
We helped with some map and compass work and then spoke about the special ecology of the area with a discussion about migratory birds. We talked about and spotted many different birds on the river and linked everything with climate change concerns and the importance of the salt marsh for wildlife and the health of our planet. The children had so many questions and enthusiastically participated for the whole morning - what a credit to themselves and their school.
It was a wonderful experience for us and we hope to link up with many more schools. If you'd like us to lead a walk or talk to help reach some curriculum goals, please do get in touch.
News
12 June 2025 - Walking Safari
We had a great turnout for the recent walking safari. The weather was kind with light airs and full sunshine all evening.
We shared a little about the importance and value of the SSSI and the aims of the Friends of Adur SSSI group. We also talked about the bigger whole river projects that will ultimately help support this fragile habitat.
It was great to have Tony and Richard from Shoreham District Ornithological Society (SDOS) who were able to tell us about the latest Eurasian Curlew sightings on the SSSI and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s project at Burpham on the Norfolk Estate that is trying to help breeding recovery of this species that is at serious risk of extinction. So it is very heartening to see tagged birds PO and NO aligning with their migratory hardwiring and choosing to return to the Adur Estuary. What’s more it reinforces that fact that migratory patterns and nesting habits are not easily changed - birds are less adaptable than us humans and not easily relocated. All the more reason to work on growing and recovering the Adur SSSI so that more Curlews can thrive.
As we marvelled at the latest transit of black-headed gulls on the mudflats - our attention was quickly drawn to the far side of the airport airfield - where as if on cue - a barn owl was busy hunting and gave quite a show for those who had binoculars!
At cuckoo corner, and the upper edges of the SSSI, we were serenaded by the songs of the sky larks and the reed birds, as we thought about the possibility of a recovered landscape and the potential a restored saltmash could have for all that depend on it for survival.
News
21 June 2025 - Midsummer Fair in Shoreham
We were so pleased with how many people stopped by to learn more about the FOASSSI and how they can help. We were part of an amazing day and stood shoulder to shoulder with many other environmental organisations which are all pushing for better protection of our natural environments so they can be enjoyed by us all. Remember, if you haven't signed up for our mailing list, please do so as lots of support means more capacity to get things changed for the better. Go to our Help Us page to sign up now.
27 April 2025 - River Safari
We had a great turn out and lovely sunny conditions for the first Adur River Safari. Samantha Smithson shared her passion for the river as a living entity. She talked about what the SSSI, its importance and how we can all play a part in helping to protect this delicate ecosystem including a few simple tips on how to paddle without disturbing our bird residents and visitors.
As we gently cruised along in the sunshine we were spotted by the Turnstones huddling in the sun on their favourite boat. We were called to by the passing Oystercatchers who were doing some serious fly-bys and serenaded by a solo Whitethroat - singing his heart out at Cuckoo Corner where we paused for some slack tide river stillness and learned about the the Adur River Recovery Project. A huge shout out to Moxie Unleash for partnering with us on these trips - Sasha brings a wealth of paddle safety knowledge, blue health wisdom, and is also able to offer board hire for the trips.