South Downs View - South Downs National Park Authority

WelcomeWelcome to thissecond newsletterfrom the SouthDowns National ParkAuthoritySince we became operationaljust over a year ago we andour partners have been verybusy improving the SouthDowns National Park. Itis early days yet but thisnewsletter gives you a flavourof what is being achieved andwhat is planned.15 July marks the 40th anniversaryof the South Downs Way. The creationof this iconic National Trail was asign of things to come and today itforms the spine of the South DownsNational Park, running all the wayfrom Winchester to Eastbourne. Youcan read more about the anniversaryof the South Downs Way on page 17.On pages 4–5 you can read allabout our exciting new South DownsWay Ahead project. Again using theSouth Downs Way as its spine, theproject is one of 12 trailblazing NatureImprovement Areas (NIAs). Led bythe National Park Authority, this £3million project has received a grantof £608,000 in Government fundingand brings together 29 partners fromacross the South Downs NationalPark (including the Authority) andbeyond to restore and protect rarechalk downland.Such partnership working is atthe heart of how the South DownsNational Park Authority works andis integral to the National Park’ssustainable future.We have also worked with partnersand stakeholders from across theSouth Downs and beyond to developthe special qualities of the NationalPark, a State of the Park report and a30-year vision for the National Park.This vision will guide us as we developour strategic Management Plan and ourfirst Core Planning Strategy.We hope you will join us in becomingactively involved and, above all, caringfor this unique and wonderful place. Inthe following pages you will find lotsof opportunities for getting involvedand having fun. Our online Forumis also a great place to stay in touchwith debates and have your say aboutthe multitude of issues affecting theNational Park http://southdownsforum.ning.com/main.Margaret ParenChair of South Downs National ParkAuthorityThis is the first edition ofSouth Downs View to beproduced since I became ChiefExecutive of the National ParkAuthority in January. I think itcaptures the breadth of ourwork and our wide range ofpartners – led by the localauthorities and parishes – whowork with us to conserve,enhance and celebrate ourvery special National Park.There are many examples of theseactive partnerships in the pages whichfollow, such as the Our South Downsproject, which works with 738 localschools to encourage children tomap and explore the world on theirdoorstep, and the launch of the southeast’s first electric bicycle network.The Authority has also joined thepartnership bidding to UNESCO forinternational recognition for parts ofthe National Park surrounding Brightonand Hove and Lewes, including the cityof Brighton and Hove itself.A distinctive feature of our NationalPark is the central importance of itsdedicated volunteers. There are manydescriptions of their work in thisedition, such as the shepherd’s caravanthat has been restored through sixmonths hard work by a team of some20 volunteers. The caravan, which wasthe centre of attention on our standat the rain sodden South of EnglandShow, is an imaginative project thatneatly symbolises the rich social andagricultural history of the South Downs.One of the great things about my jobis the chance to see at first hand thepositive impact that the National Park ishaving on the landscape and wildlife ofCOLLABOR8COLLABOR8, an EU (Interreg IVb)funded project, has contributed tothe production of this newspaper.The funding, which runs until 2012,supports local businesses to developthe South Downs. For instance, I spentan enjoyable afternoon in late Maytracking down the rare Pearl-borderedFritillary in an area of coppicingnewly established by our rangers andthe landowner. It was ideal butterflyweather and their bright orange wingsand swooping flight made them easyto spot. We counted 17 in a singlewalk across the site, which is a goodsign for the future.This strengthening of local butterflypopulations encapsulates the missionof the National Park Authority –carefully targeted work in line withnature and in association with localauthorities, land managers, partnersand volunteers that generates ameasurable improvement in thelandscape and its wildlife. You can reada lot more about this in the pageswhich follow.Trevor BeattieChief Executiveinnovative sustainable visitor productsand services across the South Downs.Now that the South Downs is aNational Park, it is vital that businessesare ready to embrace opportunities -but as a sustainable visitor destination,benefiting the communities, businessesand environment alike. Featuresthroughout the newspaper illustratehow this can be achieved. To find outmore visit www.southdowns.gov.uk/collabor8.www.southdowns.gov.uk south downs View 3