South Downs News - September 2024

South Downs News - September 2024

16/09/2024

September 2024

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WORK AND PLAY IN YOUR NATIONAL PARK

THIS MONTH:

As always please send your comments and ideas to newsletter@southdowns.gov.uk

Click here to read a PDF version of South Downs News

PICTURE OF THE MONTH: An incredible new wetland area for wildlife has been created in the east of the National Park after a chalk stream was re-aligned. The new wetland is providing an oasis for a variety of birds and insects. Find out more below!

If you have an amazing seasonal image, please do email us!

Meet Siôn, the Authority's new CEO

Siôn McGeever is to become the new Chief Executive at the South Downs National Park Authority from the end of November.

Siôn brings 25 years of experience of working in environmental policy, international development and business. He has a lifelong love of the outdoors, is a keen outdoor swimmer and enjoys photographing wildlife and landscapes.

Our thanks go to Tim Slaney, who has skillfully and diligently led the Authority team during this interim period, and will resume his key position as Director of Planning later this year.

Find out more about Siôn's appointment.

Children will discover wonders of the Downs

Hundreds of schoolchildren from across the South East will be able to enjoy the wonders of the South Downs National Park thanks to a major funding boost.

The “Discover The Downs” initiative will get scores of children into the great outdoors, bringing exciting experiences to youngsters who don’t have easy access to National Parks. It comes as a new report shows anxiety is at a record high in children in the UK.

A wide body of research has shown that connecting with nature and learning outdoors can benefit children’s mental and physical health, including assisting brain development, increasing attainment, supporting social skills, and reducing anxiety.

Schools are now being invited to apply for funding. Find out more here.

Embrace autumn with all five senses!

As the leaves turn golden and the air becomes crisp, autumn is the perfect time to experience the South Downs National Park through all five senses.

This season, let nature’s splendour envelop you in a multi-sensory adventure that deepens your connection to the landscape. Learn more here.

Discover the amazing heritage of the Downs

Whether it’s Iron Age forts, Norman castles, historic mills, Second World War defences, Viking burial mounds, or grand stately homes, the South Downs is a landscape oozing with history.

The incredible cultural heritage was one of the reasons for the designation of the National Park in 2010 and it’s the job of the National Park Authority to help conserve and enhance this heritage.

September is a good time to discover more about the heritage and culture of the South Downs as a number of venues open their doors for Heritage Open Days.

And the best part about it...it’s FREE!

The open days are part of a range of free experiences taking place across England and organised by thousands of volunteers. Find out more here about the open days.

Putting nature recovery into golf sector

Golf clubs across the South Downs National Park and beyond are coming together to help fight biodiversity loss.

With golf courses covering two per cent of England and a significant number of clubs in the South Downs, there’s tremendous potential for courses to become havens for wildlife, particularly bees and butterflies, as well as golfers.

A network of golf clubs has now been formed, with greenkeepers and club managers from across the region coming together to share knowledge and practical support. Find out more here.

Dogs with backpacks help restore flowers

Local dogs in Lewes have been ‘acting like wolves’to help reseed native wildflowers at a nature reserve.

Find out more about the clever canines here.

Rare moth is spotted

Ranger Angela Ward writes about a recent community event that uncovered one of the rarest insect species in the UK.

Read Angela's article here.

How do students connect with the National Park?

Students from the University of Brighton and East Sussex College Group have been researching how to open up the South Downs to younger generations, with a little help from technology.

Learn more here.

"Rewiggled" stream becomes wetland oasis

Six hectares of much-needed wetland for wildlife has been created following the realignment of a rare chalk stream.

The restoration of the Cockshut Stream, near Lewes, has seen the area quickly become an oasis for nature, with herons, kingfishers, egret and snipe among the many birds to be found, while toads, sticklebacks, eels and newts can be spotted in the ponds. Find out more here.

Meet National Park's community climate champion!

While this summer has seen some very mixed conditions on the south coast of England, meteorologists say that 2024 is the warmest on the planet ever recorded.

There’s no doubt that our climate is becoming more unpredictable and taking positive climate action through nature-based solutions remains one of the National Park’s key priorities.

This month we chatwith Sara Osman, the National Park’s new Climate Officer, on the topic of climate change, what it means and how to get involved in climate action.

Win a trip to West Dean Gardens!

Nestled at the foot of the South Downs,West Dean Gardens is one of the greatest restored gardens open to the public today.

Though West Dean is mentioned in the Domesday book as a hunting ground, Richard Lewknor built the first significant house in the 1620s, next to the medieval village church. In 1738, Sir John Peachey acquired the West Dean estate.

It was then inherited by Sir James Peachey, a courtier and confidant of King George III, who made him Lord Selsey in 1794. A peerage required a grander house, so in the early 19th century architect James Wyatt designed a suite of grand rooms and tall towers to give West Dean the appearance of a castle, thereby creating one of the largest flint-faced buildings in the country.

Today visitors can explore the restored walled garden, working Victorian Glasshouses, 300ft pergola, and a spring garden with flint bridges. The circular 2½ mile arboretum walk, set in 50 acres of beautiful parkland, offers stunning views of the South Downs and a route passing the grave of Edward James, a poet who inherited the house and was a famous supporter of the surrealist art movement.

West Dean, near Chichester, also runs a year-round programme of creative short courses offering you the opportunity to learn a new skill in beautiful inspirational surroundings. There is a bumper line-up of short courses this autumn, covering everything from autumnal botanical painting to tips on growing apples.

The National Park has teamed up with West Dean to offer two Garden Escape vouchers, with each voucher covering garden entry for two people and a cream tea. The voucher can be used for single use up until September 2025.

People signing up to the newsletter during September will be automatically entered into the draw. Those who are already signed up can email “St Roche's Arboretum” to newsletter@southdowns.gov.uk before midnight on 30 September.

Sign up to the newsletter here and see competition T&Cs here.

The winners of the hotly-anticipated South Downs Design Awards will be announced next month! Here's a snapshot of the shortlisted entries that showcase outstanding architecture and design. What's your favourite? Cast your vote, but be quick as voting closes at midnight on 12 September!

Things to do in September

Find other events and activities across the National Park and submit your own. Please remember booking may be necessary and do check full details with the venue.

  • Visit Charleston, in Firle, on 14 September for the Bloomsbury Queer Festival. The festival celebrates contemporary queer culture and includes a feast of queer art, writing, drag, fashion, poetry, clubbing, and protest.
  • This September, local residents in the Lewes district are throwing open their doors so you can visit and see what changes they have made to their homes to make them more energy efficient. The open house tours take place over the weekend of 14/15 and 22/22. Find out more here.
  • Become a conservation volunteer for the day and bring the whole family! Help us look after Seven Sisters Country Park, take part in a nature walk and beach clean on 21 September. Reserve a spot here.
  • Head to Gilbert White’s House, Selborne, on 18 September for an autumn harvest. The Kitchen garden crops will be being harvested , cleaned and stored ready for use by the venue and you’ll be able to ask questions on all aspects of traditional vegetable growing.
  • Join our team on 22 September for a taste of conservation volunteering at St Catherine's Hill, near Winchester, with scrub clearance to support wildflower and butterfly habitats. Reserve a spot here.
  • We’ve got two free archaeology walks coming up, but be quick if interested as tickets are going quickly! Led by James Sainsbury, Curator of Archaeology at Worthing Museum, this will be a chance to learn more about the deep time of this landscape, and the legacies left by the people who have lived and died here over thousands of years. A walk takes place at Amberley Wildbrooks on 28 September and at Highdown Hill on 5 October.
  • Coming up on 6 October, take part in a creative session at Seven Sisters Visitor Centre at Exceat. The free session will help you learn the art of podcasting in the great outdoors! Connect with nature and discover tips from seasoned writers while listening to the captivating “We Hear You Now” audio series. Book a place here.