After more than 60 years the South Downs is now England’s 10th and the United Kingdom’s 15th National Park.

The South Downs Campaign (SDC), a network of 160 organisations (1) is celebrating the news that the Government has confirmed the South Downs National Park in Sussex and Hampshire.

The Park will be established broadly along the lines proposed by the Countryside Agency almost seven years ago in 2002 and will bring greater protection and funding to the area.

The SDC is also celebrating the success of the hotly contested Western Weald (2), Ditchling and Lewes being included in the National Park along with most of the areas that the Inspector proposed should be added in his first report, particularly Woods Mill, headquarters of the Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT).

Dr Tony Whitbread chief executive of the Trust, said:
“We are pleased to have played a leading role within the Campaign and to have been successful in achieving our aim of getting a South Downs National Park. For us the icing on the cake must be the inclusion of our headquarters at Woods Mill near Henfield. Although not part of the original proposals, we successfully argued that we should be included and have since bought more land in the area and improved its environmental management.”

For more information and a map of the proposed boundary of the South Downs National Park click here

For more information on the SDC visit the website: www.southdownscampaign.org.uk

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Notes to Editors:

[1]Founded in 1990, the membership of the South Downs Campaign has grown to 160 organisations and includes most of the key national and regional conservation, environmental and amenity organisations concerned with the countryside. It includes over 90 local groups, societies and businesses and 29 parish and town councils. The SDC is generously supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

[2]The Western Weald is a 330 sq. km area of Low Weald landscapes closely associated with the South Downs, visually, culturally and historically. It covers the area including Petersfield, Liss, Midhurst and Petworth and the surrounding villages, extending up to the Surrey border to include Black Down. It represents approximately 20% of the total designated South Downs National Park area (1,640 sq. km).

SWT’s own West Weald Landscape Project (WWLP) aims to enhance an area of nearly 60,000 acres of internationally important ancient woodlands and other wildlife-rich habitats in West Sussex and south Surrey through a large-scale integrated management approach. For more information visit www.westweald.org.uk

Image caption:

Dr Tony Whitbread

credit: Elli Saunders