The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere is a non-profit partnership organization managing a designated urban biosphere reserve across the Sussex coastline, coordinating conservation, environmental education, citizen science, and sustainable tourism through a network of 60+ partner organizations, funded entirely by grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersHove, England, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere does
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere (Brighton & Lewes Downs UNESCO Biosphere Region) is a non-profit partnership organization managing a designated urban biosphere reserve in Sussex, England. The territory stretches along the coast from Worthing to Seaford and north over the South Downs National Park to Wivelsfield and Newick in the Low Weald. Founded in 2014 and re-inaugurated for a further 10 years in 2025, the organization coordinates conservation of rare habitats (coastal vegetated shingle, chalk downland, marine ecosystems), groundwater protection, biodiversity monitoring via citizen science (City Nature Challenge), environmental education through schools (Our City Our World), arts programming (Artist Residency), and sustainable tourism (The Living Coast by Bike digital platform with 10 GPS-linked cycle routes).
The organization's "technology" is primarily the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve management framework and a coordinated partnership network of 60+ organizations including Brighton & Hove City Council, South Downs National Park Authority, Kew Gardens Millennium Seed Bank, The Aquifer Partnership, and local businesses. Products include digital platforms (cycle route website, event calendars, business directory), educational curricula, and community engagement programs. The Living Coast provides all services free of charge with no commercial pricing model.
Revenue is derived entirely from grants and partnership funding. Major grants include £2.23 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (Changing Chalk partnership), £2 million from the National Lottery Community Fund (Ouse Valley Climate Action), £35,000 from The Aquifer Partnership (school education), EU Interreg France (Channel) England funding for the BioCultural Heritage Tourism Project, and abrdn Charitable Foundation support. The organization operates with 1-10 employees, including Programme Managers, an Education Ranger, Board Members, and Youth Representatives, serving residents, visitors, schools, local businesses, and partner organizations across the Sussex region.
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere
- Legal name
- The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere
- Website
- https://thelivingcoast.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere is a non-profit partnership organization managing a designated urban biosphere reserve across the Sussex coastline, coordinating conservation, environmental education, citizen science, and sustainable tourism through a network of 60+ partner organizations, funded entirely by grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE), Marine Wildlife Sanctuaries & Protected Seascape Visitor Operations (Reef/Marine Parks) (THAAAFAJ)
Keywords
Where The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hove, England
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Grant Funding: Primary funding from grants including National Lottery Heritage Fund (£2.23m for Changing Chalk partnership), abrdn Charitable Foundation, UNESCO programs, and National Lottery Community Fund (£2m to Ouse Valley Climate Action).
- EU Interreg Funding: EU Interreg France (Channel) England funding for BioCultural Heritage Tourism Project.
- Partnership Funding: Secured £35,000 partnership funding for 2024/25 academic year with The Aquifer Partnership for Our City Our World educational program.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere is a non-profit partnership organization coordinating environmental conservation, education, and community engagement across the Brighton & Lewes Downs UNESCO Biosphere Region in Sussex, England. It delivers school sustainability programs (Our City Our World), citizen science initiatives (City Nature Challenge), landscape-scale conservation projects (Changing Chalk), a GPS-linked cycling tourism platform (The Living Coast by Bike), paid artist residencies, and heritage site stewardship including Stanmer Park. All services are provided free of charge to residents, visitors, and partner organizations, funded primarily through grants and partnership funding.
Product overview
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere is a designated urban biosphere reserve organization spanning the coast from Worthing to Seaford and into the South Downs National Park. Rather than offering a traditional product portfolio, it coordinates multiple environmental, educational, and community programs including The Living Coast by Bike (a GPS-enabled cycle route platform), Our City Our World (school sustainability education), the Changing Chalk conservation initiative, citizen science programs like City Nature Challenge, and arts residencies. The organization also manages and promotes heritage sites including Stanmer Park, and operates youth engagement through its Youth Representatives Program. These initiatives are supported through partnerships with local councils, universities, conservation organizations, and EU funding programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Living Coast by Bike A GPS-linked website featuring 10 cycle routes through The Living Coast biosphere region, with route maps, heritage information, refreshment stops, and bike hire/shop links. Aimed at visitors and residents seeking sustainable cycling tourism experiences.
- Our City Our World A whole-school, whole-city approach to sustainability and climate change education for schools in Brighton & Hove, part of the Changing Chalk Partnership project. Delivered to school communities through educational programming.
- Changing Chalk Project
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 4,600 observations of 863 species recorded by 131 citizen scientists in City Nature Challenge
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Aquifer PartnershipcoreCollaboration on Our City Our World educational program secured £35,000 funding for 2024/25 academic year. Partnership works with farmers, land managers, and urban planners to protect groundwater from pollution through sustainable techniques including cover crops and rain gardens.
- Brighton & Hove City CouncilcoreLong-standing partnership delivering environmental education, conservation projects including Black Rock vegetated shingle restoration, and joint staffing through Education Ranger program.
- So SussexcoreDeveloped The Living Coast by Bike website featuring 10 GPS-linked cycle routes through the biosphere, launched 2021 as part of BioCultural Heritage Tourism Project.
- Ouse Valley Climate ActioncorePartnership with £2m National Lottery Community Fund award covering nature recovery, skills development, and green energy initiatives across Ouse Valley.
- Kew Gardens Millennium Seed BankcoreCollaboration on coastal vegetated shingle restoration project at Black Rock, propagating plants from local seeds and cuttings.
- South Downs National Park AuthoritycoreKey partner in managing the biosphere region that extends into the South Downs National Park.
- Fabrica GallerycorePartner in Living Coast Artist Residency program providing paid opportunities for artists to develop creative practice around nature and wellbeing themes.
- ONCA GallerycorePartner in Living Coast Artist Residency program and marine conservation initiatives.
- Plumpton CollegeminorRuns One Garden Brighton (formerly Stanmer Walled Garden) as college's horticulture campus.
- Brighton Permaculture TrustcoreCommunity partner at Stanmer Park managing Home Farm Orchard with over 25 rare Sussex apple varieties, designated National Collection by Plant Heritage.
- Low Carbon TrustminorBuilt England's first Earthship at Stanmer Park, an off-grid building powered by solar with water harvesting and wastewater treatment.
- Brighton & Hove Food PartnershipcoreDeveloped Stanmer Wellbeing Gardens and coordinates food-related initiatives including Sussex Surplus and Real Junk Food Project.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere social profiles
Digital presenceThe Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere
What does The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere do?
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere is a non-profit partnership organization coordinating environmental conservation, education, and community engagement across the Brighton & Lewes Downs UNESCO Biosphere Region in Sussex, England. It delivers school sustainability programs (Our City Our World), citizen science initiatives (City Nature Challenge), landscape-scale conservation projects (Changing Chalk), a GPS-linked cycling tourism platform (The Living Coast by Bike), paid artist residencies, and heritage site stewardship including Stanmer Park. All services are provided free of charge to residents, visitors, and partner organizations, funded primarily through grants and partnership funding.
Is The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere a public or private company?
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere founded?
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere based?
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere is headquartered in Hove, England, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Grant Funding is the primary driver. The others are EU Interreg Funding and partnership Funding.
Does The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere.
What industry is The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere in?
The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere's product category is Environmental Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation, with a secondary code of BPADALAE, Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation. Its NAICS code is 712190 and its SIC code is 7900.