wildlife or public access

[David A. Ashcroft]

it wont be long before birds will be nesting, deer fawning and sheep lambing.  at this critical and very sensitive time respect for the countryside needs to be promoted.  dogs on leads can still enjoy walks with their owners yet will be less likely to inadvertantly disturb, destroy or chase those wild and domestic animals trying to live without protection.  heard the story about the young reporter sent by his editor to photograph and report on the rare plant found on the down. on arriving near the location he saw a group gather so strode across to them.  he then said why he was there and where was this plant.  back came the reply that he was standing on it.  please cherrish and respect our beautiful flora and forna as well as the landscape as they make it live.

[Phil Belden]

As the old saying goes: take nothing but memories (or photos), leave nothing but footprints (treading lightly on the earth). The joy of the South Downs is that, in most parts, it is a year-round accessible place, where one can enjoy wildlife - Wildlife AND Public Access. It should perhaps be our collective responsibility, all of us who enjoy the South Downs, to share our pleasure and engender respect - to actively promote understanding and enjoyment. One simple example as a dog-owner is having one's dog under close control (ie close by you or, if not so well trained, on a lead) especially during the bird-nesting season when some of our best-loved ground-nesting birds like the evocative Skylark are at their most vulnerable. Spreading the word can do wonders and is real positive education.     

[Simon Russell]

I can only agree with your sentiments, but feel the South Downs Authority has double standards. Yesterday 30 odd dogs under only nominal control, 50 odd riders, 3 quad bikes and a landrover went from Plumpton and onto the area around Black Cap. No doubt many animals and birds were disturbed and plants crushed. I am referring to the Southdown & Eridge Fox hunt which 'visits' the South Downs  numerous times during the hunting season (Oct to March). I have attempted to contact the authroity regarding their policy tiowards this activity but only get referred to the forums. How can we ask individual dog owners to curb their odgs when such activity is still ongoing with the full approval of the South Downs Authority?

[Ruth Coleman]

Both the joy and challenge of protecting the South Downs National Park is that it is a shared responsibility. The National Park Authority does not own any of the land in the National Park but we work closely with landowners and users to balance the many competing priorities for access and recreation from a diverse range of users. We have been and will continue to work alongside others to promote respect for and sustainable and lawful use of the National Park. The National Park belongs to everyone who lives and visits here and it is only in working together that we will be able to create a sustainable future for this wonderful area.

[Simon Russell]

We I have plenty of evidence that this hunt does not respect the South Downs and other users of it. Would acccess be aloud to off-roaders who want to drive over the downs in theri 4x4s? If not why are the hunt allowed to?

[Ruth Coleman]

To refer back to my previous post, the South Downs National Park Authority does not own any of the land within the National Park. The land is owned by over 500 different landowners who make the decisions about who uses their land. The National Park Authority's Guiding Principles commit us to build partnership across the National Park. So, we will continue to work with landowners and many other stakeholders to promote respect for and sustainable use of the National Park. Our remit is not to dictate but to work in partnership with the more than 100,000 people who live in the National Park and the many thousands who visit.

[Simon Russell]

So if a landowner wanted to allow numerous off roaders to go across their land they could? Is there a list of the 500 landownerss available to public?

[John Vannuffel]

Landowners within SDNP can be identified using the Land Registry website (they have a map search facility)

500 is an underestimate - every homeowner in Lewes is a Landowner in the National Park!

Access (eg to Black Cap) is allowed in SDNPA to recreational motorists in some circumstances - as permissive access is also allowed to the public to access by other modes in some cases.

 

SDNPA does have the ability to regulate ALL traffic (including pedestrians/cyclists/motorists/horses) by virtue of powers granted under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. This allows SDNPA to impose Traffic Regualtion Orders to restrict ANY mode of access.

 

The thread title pertains to Public Access. However it's notable that private access/recreational activity often causes more disruption to wildlife than public activity.

 

Earlier this week I took my young family to visit Woods Mill - headquarters and nature reserve of Sussex Wildlife Trust. Despite the continuous traffic noise the wildlife thrived and we had a great day out. The impact of public access is often grossly exaggerated in my experience. As long as the public stick to the unnatural lines of communication (rights of way aka roads!) then wildlife thrives - lots of it in the unnaturall downland created and artificially maintained by man as well!

 

The thread title implies that wildlife and public access are mutually exclusive. The thriving wildlife in SDNP is clear evidence that this isn't the case as the park is subject to relatively (to other national parks) high levels of public access.

 

I do agree with David that there is scope to lessen impact with education. Keeping dogs on leads, except in designated areas, should be the norm in the countryside.

 The impact of the Hunt doesn't prevent wildlife thriving. The tradition, and spectacle, of the Hunt is also a special quality of the SDNP.

 

[Ruth Coleman]

I absolutely agree that education is vital and it will play a key role in our work over the coming years. To plan for the future we first need to map out the current situation. To do this we are in the process of writing a State of the Park Report which will bring together evidence from across the Park relating to all of the seven Special Qualities. As part of this evidence gathering we are currently running a Land Managers Environment Survey on our website to identify impacts that visitors have on the environment. The State of the Park Report will be published later this year. In addition, we are looking at how we can work with residents and visitors to identify small behaviour changes that will positively impact on the sustainable future of the SDNP.

[Simon Russell]

Well I wouldn't agree that the tradition, and spectacle, of the Hunt is also a special quality of the SDNP, particualry when this incudes the large number of quad bikes and 4x4s which can hardly be claimed a traditional. Added to this their supporters blocking footpaths and other aggressive behaviour.

Also I think you will have a hard sell to persuade dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead when they see 30 dogs roaming at will.

It is then Ok for people to plan activites which include use of the South Downs Way and other public areas such as the car parks and make profit out of these activities?

[John Vannuffel]

People do use Rights Of Way to provide activity for profit. For example there are outdoor exercise classes that use ROW.

 

As for open spaces local authorities were in the media recently for charging people to run fitness classes in parks.

 

What about the commercial dogwalking services that take groups of customers dogs for walks along ROW for a profit.

The countryside has always been used commercially, wether it be for food production, wildlife tours or commercial recreation.

Organised events often have a higher impact. Look at the 3 peaks challenge which arguably inflicts a greater toll than the Hunt. One can no more ban the Hunt in SDNP than the charity MTB events.

Just because you dont like a particular activity doesn't mean it's not enjoyed or tolerated by others. Plenty of space in SDNP for everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

[Glynn Jones]

Its quite simple - they have the land owner's permission. I doubt the hunt disturbed too many ground nesting birds or young deer at this time of the year. I am not a hunt supporter and am in no way involved but I defend their right to act within the law and am not envious of them exercising privileges I don't have.

[Emily Brennan]

I fully support the comments that communication and education is key to minimising disturbance to wildlife.  As Britain's most visitied National Park (with over 39 million visits annually), the SDNPA can achieve the best results by working with a wide range of indivduals, organisations and groups to promote understanding, valuing, and responsible use of the countryside.

Of course enforcement is a necessary part of the SNDPAs remit as a statutory body - but this should be complemented by a wide range of educational and engagement activities (such as the Management Plan workshops).

Wildlife can, of course, be significantly adversely affected by disturbance.  Occasional disturbance events (such as dog disturbance on heathland during the ground-nesting bird breeding season) often have more impact than regular disturbance events (e.g. traffic noise from a busy road).  One of our priorities should be to identify where and when disturbance is having (or likely to have) a significant impact on wildlife, and work with relevant stakeholders to minimise this disturbance.