The South Downs National Park is England’s newest National Park established in 2010.
The South Downs National Park is the UK’s newest National Park, designated in 2010. It is the most populous National Park and by far the most popular, with an estimated 39 million visitors each year. It contains a number of internationally important habitats including chalk grassland and several areas of lowland heath such as Woolmer Forest, the only place in the country to have all the UK’s native amphibian and reptile species.
Designated: 31/03/2010
Habitats: Estuaries, beaches and seashore, coastal cliffs, grassland, heathland, farmland, ancient woodland
Common wildlife: Roe deer, nightingale
Star spots: Badgers, barbastelle bat
Notable towns and cultural sights: Cissbury Ring hillfort, Winchester
Notable nature sights: Chalk streams, Kingley Vale
Popular activities for visitors: Hiking, stargazing
Highest peak: Blackdown 280 meters above sea level
Annual visitor numbers: 39 million in 2019
Threats: Overtourism
During the spring and summer of 2022, Saira Niazi met, interviewed and photographed people from all walks of life about their unique and personal connections to the South Downs National Park as part of her New Perspectives project "Portrait of the South Downs". This is her short film about artist Pearl Bates.
Along with National Park Societies we've signed a joint letter calling for political parties to set out firm commitments on National Parks ahead of the next election.
With National Parks appearing to struggle, Andrew McCloy (Chair of Trustees at Campaign for National Parks) looks into the underlying issues and how systematic changes could help them flourish.
We've written an open letter to Michael Gove, calling for a moratorium on oil and gas extraction in National Parks.
