S.O.C.S. is a registered charity run entirely by volunteers and dedicated to the environmental protection and enhancement of the Sussex River Ouse, its tributaries and impoundments.

The Society was set up in 1995 by a small group of local people who were concerned about the perceived decline of the river as a natural habitat. It has since expanded to a membership of over 100. It is administered by a body of trustees and is fortunate in having skilled and highly qualified members in the fields of environmental science, finance, law, information technology and management who give freely of their time for the benefit of the Society.

How we achieve our aims:

• S.O.C.S. runs an education programme for schools and youth groups to illustrate the wildlife in the river and stress the importance of caring for the environment.
• We support projects at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels for students and research teams at local universities.
• We give presentations at local events and to other groups, publicising our work.
• We vigorously campaign for improvements in water quality, in particular we are constantly lobbying against the licensed discharge of untreated sewage into our river and its tributaries.
• We encourage farmers and landowners to manage their land in ways sympathetic to the health of the river.
• Teams from S.O.C.S. regularly monitor the chemical and biological status of the river and its tributaries.
• Other teams are engaged in clearing rubbish and debris from the watercourses, managing bank side vegetation and providing habitat restoration.

Sussex Ouse Conservation Society
Oakwood House   Barcombe   East Sussex   BN8 5BW
T: (01273) 400093     E: info@sussex-ouse.org.uk    W: www.sussex-ouse.org.uk