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Restoring lowland heath

Restoring lowland heath

Bigger. Better. Joined up

Eleven organisations led by the South Downs National Park Authority have joined forces to expand and connect the existing 1% of heathland left in the national park.

The heaths have separated into ‘islands’ where isolated plants and animals are far more vulnerable to local extinction. This habitat is home to some of Britain’s rarest wildlife including all twelve of our native reptiles and amphibians.

The project is funded by partner contributions and a £1.44 Million National Lottery Heritage funded grant. The total project value is £2.37 million.

Launched in 2016 the project runs for 5 years until 2021. As well as expanding, creating new and improving existing heathland. The project aims to reengage and inspire communities to visit their heathlands, learn more about them and work together to look after them so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.

Find out more about the rare wildlife that relies solely on this habitat.

Heathlands Reunited project area map

As well as all of this, there are a series of educational events and activities that are taking place across the project area. Find out more and book onto an event. There are also lots of other ways that you can help the heaths through volunteering with the project.

Project News

Keep up to date with the project by signing up to the South Downs National Park newsletter.  Project stories can be found at the foot of the newsletter. Download the latest newsletter.

Use or search the #HelpTheHeaths on social media to follow project activity.

Partners

The project will run across 5 years, working on 41 sites with 11 partners:

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"The Downs...too much for one pair of eyes, enough to float a whole population in happiness."