Hills! What Hills?

Despite the rain on Saturday morning, there was good turnout in Buriton where enthusiastic cyclists were eager to try out an electric bicycle. Organised by CPRE Hampshire, National Park Authority member, Doug Jones, and Cycle Life in Petersfield - a handful of bikes…

Hi there

West Sussex CC is working with CSE to organise a PlanLoCal workshop for communities interested in harnessing local renewable energy resources as a community.

There is just 2 weeks to go before the workshop in Horsham so please book your places without delay.

The Horsham workshop is one of a series of PlanLoCal workshops that CSE are running Further details and a registration form are available through the links below.…

Yesterday the government announced 12 new wildlife havens (called Nature Improvement Areas – NIAs) across England.  This commitment follows on from the 2011 Natural Environment White Paper and the…

RSPB Pulborough Brooks

A feeble sun, risen barely above the horizon casts long shadows on hard frozen ground. On the south part of the brooks, in the lee of the wind there is such silence that every sound is amplified; from the…

A bit short notice but I have only just joined the forum.

The woodfuel market in the South East is growing and maturing with new large users looking for timber supplies. West Sussex County Council and the Forestry Commission are holding 3 evening meetings to look at the latest developments and opportunities. We hope that people living without mains gas, woodland owners, farmers and those working in the woods will come along. Topics for discussion include:…

Ebernoe Common

Heavy snow-laden clouds seem to be propped up by the tall  birch trees around the small Victorian red-brick church, and the occasional flurry of snow litters the…

I am interested in finding out the ways in which the NPA is planning to use the Park to promote the physical health and emotional well-being of children and young people through education and activities. The web-site seems to lack anything that would engage me if I were a young person!! Are our schools aware of the opportunities the South Downs NP could offer.......are there any? Can we get something more…

The Burgh



Wisps of cloud like strands of a wise sage's hair hang loosely across a powder blue sky, as the river Arun glitters below…

Thoroughly appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the consultative process yesterday evening. I was impressed by the range and depth of contributions, professionalism of the facilitation team and commitment of the Park to involve a wide range of stakeholders in developing priorities for the future. Look forward to learning how the process influences policy.

I’ve recently signed on to the forum so thought I might start by contributing a “think piece” on recent developments on ecosystem approaches and how this might influence the management plan.

There are big changes underway regarding the natural world!  Increasingly we are recognising that it is the quality of the environment that has a determining factor on everything else.  Nature is not just a special interest that exits only in little boxes (nature reserves) it…

Last Friday we posted up the draft Special Qualities of the South Downs National Park and asked what you thought about them. I’m really chuffed that over 170 people have already responded. This really matters because these Special Qualities will be the foundation for everything we do. They’re also very personal of course. In my case, it’s being with my family on top of Harting Down on Saturday afternoon – a warm wind blowing, the Isle of Wight shimmering in the milky early autumn light, and…

Hi. The first community workshop in Petworth on Friday managed to keep fifty people away from the pub and the TV for four hours. Not much sign of support for the chocolate box view of a National park here – the emphasis was firmly on needing vibrant and thriving communities, social housing and jobs for young people – alongside the restoration of nature. No sign of backwards looking on Thursday either, when the Sussex Wildlife Trust holds its 50th Anniversary conference “The Nature of Change”…

We have over 350 of you using this Forum now – and lively debates running on public transport, the rural economy, Parish Plans and so forth. As from now anyone can sign up, and it is linked it much more clearly to our main SDNPA website.

An underlying topic on the Forum has been change. How much is acceptable? How should we respond to or manage it? Is everything in the garden rosy, or do the chocolate box images of the South Downs disguise disturbing underlying trends towards a…

Hi everyone,

Take a look at www.pitlandsbarns.co.uk this project is coming on just wonderfully and hopefully will be finished in a couple of months then we can welcome all our visitors to this lovely part of the South Downs National Park.

A big project for our familly and very exciting with Jenny in charge of interior design and Philip (me) in charge of the build.

Our web site is still at beta stage and will shortly have…

Many people have asked us for details of who was present at the event at Stanmer House - please click on the link below to download the full attendance list.

19th July Attendance List.pdf

Two weeks on from the first South Downs National Park Forum at Stanmer I thought it worth reflecting on the day.

From the outset I was struck by the enthusiasm of those attending for getting involved. Many were old faces who have, over many years, shown their passion and commitment to the South Downs. But there were a lot of new faces to bring a fresh perspective to the day. It all led to lively but good-hearted debate. Many of the challenges that will face the National Park…

Eight days on from the Stanmer event and we already have over 120 people signed up online! This is a good start, but I would like to see many more joining as we get into the nitty-gritty of developing a Management Plan for the National Park. We need your views on the things which should go on the plan, and lots more debate about the tough issues like housing, access, and the rural economy. You’ll be hearing a great deal more about this as the SDNPA will be running a series of workshops…