We support the best projects, delivered by the best people, informed by the South Downs Rangers, local communities and environmental and heritage experts.
Children today spend half as much time playing outside as their parents did. We want to change that, increasing the recreational and learning time young people spend in the South Downs.
- School Travel Grant
We are supporting more children from low income families to experience learning outside the classroom in the South Downs National Park. In 2018, 1,110 more disadvantaged school children experienced their National Park thanks to a donation from Sussex Community Foundation and Brighton Rock Fund.
- Apprentice Ranger Programme
Some of the traditional skills and knowledge needed to preserve our landscape, such as flint stone walling or traditional hedge laying, are in decline. We are working in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority to deliver a dedicated Apprentice Ranger Programme, which will help a new generation of South Downs Rangers protect the South Downs and our traditions.
Improving walking and cycling routes
We want to increase the network of family-friendly walking and cycling routes and encourage more disadvantaged people to visit, who live near the Park but rarely experience the many benefits their National Park has to offer.
- Improving the South Downs Way
Through the Mend our Way appeal the South Downs National Park Trust aims to raise £120,000 for critical improvements on the South Downs Way. More than half-a-million walkers, cyclists and riders enjoy the 160km trail every year. The South Downs National Park Trust is asking people who’ve enjoyed the trail to give something back. Through this campaign we will restore the most critical areas, safeguarding the South Downs Way for the future.
- Replacing Stiles for Swing Gates
Working with the South Downs Society we are creating a series of stile-free routes, so people with limited mobility can still enjoy their National Park.
Improve our grassland, heathland and woodland
We want to improve and increase our grassland, heaths and woods – which are home to millions of plants, bees, butterflies including many rare and threatened species.
- Providing new habitat for the white-letter hairstreak butterfly
We are working in partnership with Butterfly Conservation to plant 550 disease-resistant elm trees in the Adur Valley to support the recovery of this rare butterfly.
- Hedge planting in Woolbeding
Working with the National Trust and Volunteer Ranger Service we hope to re-establish almost 6,000 meters of historic hedgerow, providing wildlife corridors for a range of species.
Help for communities that live in and around the south downs to care for their national park
We support the grassroots groups already working to care for their National Park. We work with a number of supportive partners and donors who help fund their work.
- The Volunteer Conservation Fund (supported by the South Downs Volunteer Ranger Service)
This fund supports projects that enhance the National Park and have the practical involvement of the Volunteer Ranger Service.