Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust

OART is a rivers trust formed from the amalgamation of the Sussex Ouse Conservation Society and the River Adur Conservation Society. It is a registered charity and a member of the national body now known as The Rivers Trust (formerly the Association of Rivers Trusts). OART is dedicated to the environmental protection and enhancement of the Sussex River Ouse, the River Adur, their tributaries and impoundments. As a member of the European Union, the UK has an obligation under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) to bring our rivers up to €˜good ecological status’ by 2027 at the latest. Failure to achieve this would mean the government having to make substantial infraction payments to the EU. However, this legislation offers a great leap forward in relation to the well being of our rivers. The rivers Ouse and Adur have been designated as one catchment by DEFRA and this has subsequently been chosen as one of ten pilot catchments to lead the way in UK river restoration. OART has risen to the challenge with enthusiasm and both individually and in partnership with other organisations such as the Environment Agency we are engaged in a programme of improvements to our rivers habitats. The government has allocated significant funding for these purposes and this has enabled us to carry out both minor and major improvements on both our rivers.