Lewes Dogs
Help
The Cockshut stream between its grassy banks.
Photo: Simon Carey (2012), CC BY-SA 2.0

The Cockshut wetland

Nature reserve · Behind the Stanley Turner Ground, Lewes

New wetland with raised walkways

  • Dogs welcome
DirectionsWebsite

Been here with your dog? Tell us how it went. It takes a few taps, and it helps the next dog.

Checked by Cleo & Bonnie

Confirmed on 25 Oct 2026

Cleo

Raised walkways over the wet bits, so the beard stays dry. I stay on the lead, for the birds nesting in the grass.

Bonnie

Birds that live on the GROUND? Nobody told me. I'll stay on my lead here, which is probably for the best.

The pawrents

It's a truly beautiful walk: a new wetland on the Lewes Brooks, behind the Stanley Turner Ground, with raised walkways and footbridges.

More from the pawrents

The council asks for dogs on leads to protect ground-nesting birds. There's no byelaw or order that requires it, so it's a request, but a kind one to follow.

The dog details

The signs on the gate are the rule on the day.

  1. Their own website · 6 Oct 2026

    Visiting page, read 6 Oct 2026: stay on the marked paths. Dogs must be kept on leads and out of the water, even a dog with a good recall, for other walkers, protected wildlife and the water. The site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

    cockshutstream.org

  2. The council · 3 Oct 2026

    Not named in any of the council's byelaws (read 3 Oct 2026), and the district's only dog order is for fouling, so no byelaw or order requires leads here. The council asks for leads to protect ground nesting birds.

    lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk

  3. Our own visits · Oct 2026

    A truly beautiful walk.

  4. In the news · 14 Aug 2024

    From Lewes District Council: the wetland has raised walkways and bridges so visitors can reach the whole site; dog walkers are asked to keep dogs on leads to protect ground-nesting birds.

    sussexexpress.co.uk

  5. The council · Oct 2026

    Lewes district's one dog order is dog fouling, on any land open to the public; the dogs-on-leads orders listed are all in Eastbourne. Orders renewed 24 Nov 2023 for three years. Fixed penalty up to 75 pounds, fine up to 1,000.

    lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk

  6. Their own website · undated

    6.8 ha of wetland round the realigned Cockshut chalk stream, on the land behind the Stanley Turner Ground, in the Lewes Brooks; Lewes District Council is the principal landowner. Kingfishers, snipe, egrets and herons; grass snakes in the reedy ditches.

    cockshutstream.org

  7. Their own website · Apr 2024

    South Downs National Park case study: a circular walk with interpretation panels, and two public footbridges, built in 2023.

    southdowns.gov.uk

  8. Their social media · 1 Oct 2026

    Seasonal rules: Sheep are grazing at the Cockshut Stream (autumn 2026): dogs on leads.

    instagram.com
Where dogs can go
On a lead, and out of the water. The project's own rule. Stay on the marked paths. Not a byelaw or a dogs-on-leads order
Leads
Dog walkers asked to keep dogs on leads to protect nesting ground birds
Seasonal rules
Sheep are grazing at the Cockshut Stream (autumn 2026): dogs on leads

Not known yet: muddy dogs and step-free. Know? Tell us

Opening hours and busy times See them on Google Maps

Hours change, so we don't copy them here. Google Maps has them, and for busier places how busy it usually is, hour by hour.

Visiting

Access
Raised walkways and bridges so visitors can reach the whole site
Walks nearby
A circular walk with interpretation panels

In their own words Dogs must be kept on leads and out of the water. We ask that owners of even the most obedient dogs respect this in the interest of other walkers, protected wildlife species and water quality.

Spotted something wrong, or know something we don't? Tell us

We don't know yet: muddy dogs and step-free. $Or a rule that's changed, where dogs can go, water bowls. How you know helps too.

Only so we can ask you about it. We won't add you to anything, and it's never shown.

Been here with your dog? Tell us how it went

A few taps. We read every one before anything changes on this page.

Where were dogs allowed? (optional)
A water bowl? (optional)
Treats for dogs? (optional)
Would you go back with your dog? (optional)
What we can do with it

Run this place? Update your listing

All the dog-friendly things to do in Lewes

Nearby

The Swan Inn: 600 m · Lewes Garden Centre: 750 m · Swanborough Lakes: 850 m, as the crow flies, between postcode centres.