All posts by Luke Geoghegan

South Downs barn owls get ready to fledge!

July 24th, 2018

Sadly, there are only three owlets left in the barn owl box. Over the last two weeks, the youngest two chicks have died. While it’s sad to see, it is very common for some of the chicks to not make it to fledging age – statistically only an average of 25% of all hatched barn […]

Count butterflies in the South Downs

July 20th, 2018

The Big Butterfly Count needs your help with its annual survey of the nation’s butterflies. Words by South Downs Ranger, Tim Squire Spend fifteen minutes sitting in the sun and, while you are there, count some butterflies. What an easy way to help some of the National Park’s most iconic species. Don’t take my word […]

South Downs Local Plan Update – July 18

July 18th, 2018

The South Downs Local Plan was submitted to Government for examination on 27 April 2018 along with a large evidence base on a range of subjects from landscape and biodiversity to housing and employment. Inspector Brian Sims BSc CEng MICE MRTPI has been appointed to conduct the examination to determine whether the South Downs Local […]

West Sussex Minerals Plan

July 18th, 2018

On 30 May 2018, the Inspector issued his final report on the West Sussex and South Downs Joint Minerals Plan. The report confirms the Plan is sound and legally compliant subject to a number of modifications including the requirement to produce a single issue review of Soft Sand policies. In July 2018, both the National […]

National Park review announced

July 17th, 2018

At the end of May the Government announced a review of England’s National Parks led by Julian Glover. Words by Tim Slaney, SDNPA’s Director of Planning. After the Second World War Arthur Hobhouse, a favourite of the Bloomsbury set, was asked to lead a review into the potential for British National Parks. In his 1949 report […]