About the South Downs National Park

On 31st March 2010 the South Downs became Britain's newest National Park and the 10th to be designated in England.

What is a National Park?

Britain's 15 National Parks are large areas of spectacular landscape that include mountains, meadows, moorlands, woods, coasts and wetlands.

Known as Britain's Breathing Spaces, National Parks are areas of protected countryside that everyone can visit and enjoy. They are not owned by the Nation or managed only for their wildlife. They are mostly farmed landscapes where people live, work and shape the landscape.

The Environment Act of 1995 defined the purposes of National Parks as:

• conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage
• promoting opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of their special qualities
  

The National Park Authority is the organisation set up to look after the National Park. The Authority works with partners to deliver the National Park purposes. In carrying out its work, the Authority also has a duty to foster the economic and social well-being of the local communities in the Park.

The South Downs National Park Authority begins its work on 1st April 2010.

For more information about Britain's National Parks visit: www.nationalparks.gov.uk

What is special about the South Downs National Park?

The South Downs National Park is over 1,600 km.sq. and stretches 100 miles from the edge of Winchester to Beachy Head.

The Park's geology combines the greensands and clays of the Weald with the chalk of the Downlands. This geology provides the foundation for large tracts of internationally important ancient woodlands, open heathland and the famous rolling downlands that lead to the iconic, sheer cliffs at Seven Sisters and Beachy Head.

The landscape supports a great variety of trees, plants, birds and other wildlife. This includes ancient beech and oak trees, nightjars, the insectivorous Sundew plant, rare orchids, the beautiful Adonis Blue butterfly and the seldom-seen adder. And much, much more!

The Park is home to over 108,000 people and includes the towns of Petersfield, Midhurst and Lewes. Many people visit the area from the nearby coastal towns and cities such as Brighton, Chichester and Eastbourne. London is less than 1 hour away.

To find out more about why the South Downs National Park is so special visit: www.southdownsonline.org/learning