South Downs National Park

On 31 March 2009, Hilary Benn Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs declared the South Downs as Britain’s 15th ¹ and newest National Park.

The purpose of national parks is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of an area and, to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of these areas by the public. Globally, national parks cover around 12.9% ² of the Earth’s surface.

Photo: Sussex Wildlife Trust

The South Downs National Park will be the sixth largest in the UK. The area already receives more visitors each year than the other national parks, and with an estimated 120000 ³ residents it will also have the largest population.

The criteria for designating national parks was set out in the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act passed in 1949, and the South Downs was amongst 12 candidate sites identified at this time. The transition to national park will take until 2011. The South Downs National Park Authority will be set up in 2010 in preparation for assuming its full range of functions from 1 April 2011.

The South Downs National Park will cover just over 162000 hectares of Sussex and Hampshire. Within this, important areas of Biodiversity Action Plan habitats are found including chalk grassland, heathland and woodland. In addition the South Downs are home to many rare and threatened species including birds, reptiles and butterflies.

Photo: Laurie Jackson

We need to increase the quality of the entire countryside to ensure our wildlife can adapt and thrive in the face of pressures such as climate change and development. The South Downs National Park will receive a high level of protection under the planning system which will help to ensure this special area is protected from the negative effects of the development planned in this region.

Please follow the links for more information about the South Downs , the National Park declaration or National Parks in general.

¹ This includes the Broads which is designated under different legislation to the national parks, but is subject to the same level of protection.
² IUCN (2008)
³ UK Association of National Park Authorities