Brighton and Lewes Downs Biosphere Reserve

The Brighton and Lewes Downs Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve located in Sussex on the southeast coast of England near the city of Brighton and Hove. Forming a central unit of the hills of the South Downs National Park, it is centred on the Brighton chalk block that lies between the River Adur in the west and the River Ouse in the east. Chalk downland makes up the principal terrestrial landscape of the area, bounded at each end by the two river valleys. The coastline is dominated by impressive chalk cliffs in the east and urbanized plains in the west, running to the estuary of the River Adur at Shoreham-by-Sea. The area is nationally and internationally renowned for its arts and culture, distinctive settlements, independent mindset and its links to the surrounding iconic English landscape of downland, white chalk cliffs and beaches.AreaThe reserve's surface area is 29514 ha. The core area is 1832 ha, surrounded by buffer zone(s) of 20479 ha and transition area(s) of 7203 ha.Ecological characteristicsBrighton and Lewes Downs Biosphere Reserve is found within the temperate broadleaf forests biome of the Palearctic realm’s British Island province and includes the following habitats: coastal chalk cliffs, sub-tidal chalk reef, freshwater wetland, shingle beaches, deciduous woodland, river estuaries and chalk grassland.