Characteristics of National Parks


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

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