Henri Brocklebank is the Director of Conservation at Sussex Wildlife Trust and has been focused on wildlife in Sussex for many years. Seeing a functional network for nature in Sussex is the ambition and Henri works with her team and with partners across Sussex to bring that to a reality.
A Victory for Nature: Sussex Wildlife Trust’s Judicial Review Success
We are thrilled to share the outcome of our recent Judicial Review challenge – a significant win for marine conservation and a proud moment for Sussex Wildlife Trust.
This achievement is more than a legal victory; it’s a testament to the passion, professionalism, and resilience of our team. Operating far outside our comfort zone, we coordinated across the organisation, harnessing every ounce of expertise and energy to respond to a call to action that demanded attention to detail, rapid responses and many layers of judgement and internal governance. The experience? Intense, but deeply rewarding.
This success was made possible by the outstanding legal guidance of the Environmental Law Foundation, Leigh Day Solicitors, and our barrister Jessica Allen of Number 5 Chambers. But just as vital was the groundswell of support from marine and community groups, our members, and the wider public. Your encouragement exceeded all expectations and reminded us why we fight for nature.
The Legal Challenge
We brought four key challenges against the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), questioning the legality of their decision to permit the disposal of dredged material, at staggering volumes, within a Marine Protected Area. The MMO conceded on one of our points, which was enough to quash the decision. We remain confident that all four challenges could have stood up in court.
This is a crucial moment. While Brighton Marina still requires dredging, any future application must now be reassessed, this time with the environmental considerations Sussex Wildlife Trust has spotlighted. We’ll be watching closely and keeping our supporters informed every step of the way.
Why This Matters
Marine protection in the UK has lagged behind terrestrial conservation by nearly a century. While land-based protections began in 1915 with Lord Rothschild’s list of 284 sites, our Sussex Marine Conservation Zones were only designated between 2013 and 2019. This is our second successful Judicial Review; both aimed at defending these hard-won marine designations.
It’s disheartening that after securing these protections, we must fight to make them meaningful. The term “Paper Parks” is often used to describe marine sites that exist in name only. We believe this must change. Designation should mean protection, surely?
Looking Ahead
We’ll take a moment to celebrate, but our work continues. Government bodies must align in their commitment to safeguarding marine environments. Until they do, we’ll remain vigilant, determined, and ready to act. Thank you to everyone who stood with us. Together, we can turn the tide for nature.
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