River Cuckmere

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River Cuckmere
Origin	Near Heathfield
Mouth	English Channel
Basin countries	England (East Sussex)

The River Cuckmere rises near Heathfield in East Sussex, England on the southern slopes of the Weald. The name of the river probably comes from the Saxon word meaning fast-flowing, since it descends over 200ft (100m) in its initial four miles (6.4km)^[1]

The river has many tributaries at its upper end, the principal one being the River Bull; and its main channel begins at Hellingly. After crossing the Low Weald area of farmland south, the Cuckmere breaks through the South Downs in its own valley, to reach the English Channel east of Seaford at the Seven Sisters. The lower part of its course is marked by meandering, which are a well-known feature of the area^[2][3] The The Cuckmere Valley Nature Reserve is located here. The Cuckmere Valley civil parish takes it's name from the river.

The course of the river was historically diverted to allow improved irrigation for agriculture in the area. The artificial meanders of the Cuckmere river that this created, are . The area is a major tourist attraction, and on the west side of the river, where the A259 crosses the river at Exceat is the popular Golden Galleon Public House.

A collaboration of the Environment Agency, DEFRA and various other environmental and conservation groups plans to stop protecting the area from flooding. Presently, an artificial pebble blockade prevents seawater penetrating the uppermost areas of the Cuckmere Valley. However, with sea level rise and increasing costs of abation, together with growing evidence that the area would be more ecologically rich, if allowed to return to its natural state; it is planned to stop the repair of this blockade, which will result in the eventual flooding of this highly popular area. It is estimated, however that the benefit in terms of ecological expansion, will in the long term, act to improve tourism.

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