Category Archives: National Park

South Downs Way Walk 7-15 June

Posted on

South Downs Way Walk 7-15 June 2013
An organised nine day walk along the full 100 miles. The Footprints Red Shirts walk with you. Luxury coach transport provided. By far the simplest way of completing the walk. Each day averages around 11 miles. The sectors are as follows: Eastbourne — Alfriston — Newmarket Inn — Devils Dyke — Washington — Whiteways — Cocking — Queen Elizabeth Park — Exton — Winchester. More here.

Characteristics of National Parks

Posted on


The ONS has just released a report [PDF] on the national parks in England and Wales based on the 2011 census. Residents of the South Downs National Park (SDNP) should find some of the content to be of interest:

  • The population of the national parks taken as a whole has increased by 7,400 since 2001. Of this, the SDNP is responsible for 7,200.
  • The population density of the SDNP is the highest of any national park and 36 times greater than that of the Northumberland park.
  • The SDNP had the lowest median age at 46 (compare the Broads and Exmoor, both at 53).
  • National park residents are older than the general population but consider themselves healthier: 82% describe their health as good or very good. The SDNP has the highest proportion who describe their health as very good.
  • Among the parks, the SDNP has the lowest proportion of UK born residents at 91% (the figure is 87% for the population as a whole and 97% in Snowdonia).
  • 40% of SDNP households occupy detached houses or bungalows (the figure is 23% for the population as a whole and 66% for the New Forest).
  • The SDNP has the lowest proportion of homes with “no usual residents” at 6% which is a bit higher than the national average but much lower than the national park average (14%) and the Pembrokeshire Coast (28%).

GJMG

Living in vans on the Downs

Posted on

Living in a van

Van dwellers appeal eviction notice

The Argus reports:

The group of van dwellers have been on the site, which is in South Downs National Park .. for at least four months. When The Argus visited earlier this month, it included a university student, a roller-skating teacher and a telesales worker. Some members of the current encampment were part of a group which was evicted from land bordering Devil’s Dyke Road in May 2012.

Ward councillor Ken Norman .. said “The big issue here is human rights, whatever they are.”

Illegal encampments can be reported to West Sussex County Council by contacting Esther Quarm on 033 022 23736 or email esther.quarm@westsussex.gov.uk

Tell the Stars

Posted on

Jean La Fontaine (1621-1695) 'The astrologer who stumbled into a well'

Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars [Gen. 15:5]

“The people of the South Downs National Park are being called to become ‘citizen scientists’ by taking part in Star Count 2013 – a cosmic census to help map light pollution across the country. Stargazers will be asked to count the number of stars they can see with the naked eye within the constellation of Orion as part of a national Star Count taking place from Friday 8 February to Saturday 16 February.

The Star Count is particularly important in the South Downs as it will provide vital evidence about the quality of the National Park’s night skies and whether it might be possible to gain Dark Sky status in the future.”

The rest of the press release is here.

Damage to the Beeding Hill to Newtimber Hill SSSI

Posted on

Not The Bourne Legacy
Natural England, the responsible body for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), reports that “the site has been blighted by off-road motorcyclists who have been using it as a track. Damage to the site is worsening over time, with offenders bringing equipment with them to dig tracks and make alterations to suit their sport. .. the area is now being monitored by local police officers in a bid to stop the damage. .. A 23-year-old man from Hove has recently been issued with a warning under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, after being arrested causing damage at the site”.