Win £250 as photo competition returns!

Everyone has their favourite spot (or spots!) in the South Downs!

It might be admiring the dramatic chalk cliffs at Seven Sisters, wandering through the misty autumn woods at Ebernoe, poppy fields amongst the lush verdant hills, or immense views of coast and country from Butser Hill.

The South Downs National Park is full of iconic gems that make for great photographs – from the stunning landscape, to the awe-inspiring wildlife, to the majestic old buildings and street scenes.

As the National Park is celebrating its 15th birthday this year, people are being invited to photograph some of their favourite things about the South Downs – whether that be locations, views, towns and villages, heritage, food and drink, or whatever the imagination can think of!

The prizes for the competition, Three cheers for 15 years: South Downs favourites, will be £250 for first place, £150 for second place, £75 for third place and £50 for fourth place.

As always there will be a separate wildlife category, with a £150 prize for the best shot and £75 for the runner-up image.

The youth competition returns this year for budding young photographers – with categories 10 years and under and 11 to 17. Young photographers are being challenged to snap an amazing shot of their favourite aspect of the South Downs National Park. The prize for 10 years and under will be a family ticket to Marwell Wildlife, while the winner of the 11 to 17 category will win a GoApe adventure for two. Find out more here about what the judges are looking for!

Enter the 2025 Photo Competition

Try something new for National Walking Month

May is National Walking Month and a good time to celebrate its simple joys!

Whether you’re looking for an hour-long stroll with a breathtaking view or a work-up-a-sweat ramble up and down some hills, there are hundreds of walks to enjoy in the South Downs National Park. We may all have our go-to walks and picnic spots, but why not try something a bit different?

Click here to find out five ideas for trying something new.

Beautiful benches are unveiled

Four bespoke oak benches with landscape-inspired inscriptions have been unveiled at a serene dew pond near Eastbourne.

The new benches at Warren Hill will provide a place for gathering, as well as rest and reflection, for people of all ages and abilities, allowing appreciation of the surrounding landscape and stunning views across Eastbourne and the Seven Sisters towards the sea. Learn more here.

Toadally awesome news!

Their distinctive rasping call can be heard up to a mile away, earning them the reputation as the UK’s loudest amphibian.

Now the natterjack toad, long associated with British folklore, is making a remarkable comeback in the South Downs National Park after battling back from the brink. Find out more here.

High Court action is taken after planning breach

A prison sentence has been narrowly avoided after a woman was taken to the High Court for repeated planning breaches in the National Park. Learn more here.

Win e-bike hire to explore National Park!

There’s nothing quite like experiencing the landscape with the wind in your hair and the feel-good endorphins of pedal power.

Cuckmere Cycle Company is located a beautiful converted granary barn close to the National Park’s Seven Sisters visitor centre at Exceat. Overlooking the Cuckmere Estuary, with several trails starting right from its door, the shop is perfect for exploring the Seven Sisters cliffs, Cuckmere Haven, Friston Forest (pictured above) and the picturesque villages of Alfriston, Litlington, Wilmington, Jevington and East Dean.

We’ve teamed up with them to offer a free e-bike experience for two people for two hours, giving you the chance to explore this stunning area on two wheels.

People signing up to the newsletter during May will be automatically entered into the draw to win the e-bike experience. Those who are already signed up can email “riding a bicycle is the closest you can get to flying” to newsletter@southdowns.gov.uk before midnight on 31 May.

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

Win tickets to comedy night!

Calling all comedy lovers!

Epic Comedy are offering two pairs of tickets for their forthcoming comedy night being held at the South Downs Centre in Midhurst.

The event on Saturday, 14 June is being headlined by Angela Barnes, who has appeared at Live At The Apollo, Richard Osman's House of Games, Mock The Week and Russell Howard's Good News. Angela will be supported by Amy Mason, Dave Chawner and host Paul Cox.

People signing up to the newsletter during May will be automatically entered into the draw to win the tickets. Those who are already signed up can email “I love to laugh” to newsletter@southdowns.gov.uk before midnight on 31 May.

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

Are you a visitor accommodation provider in the National Park?

The National Park Authority has commissioned Tomorrow’s Tourism to update the 2014 South Downs Visitor Accommodation Review.

The 2025 update will help the SDNPA to better understand the availability, distribution, numbers, offer and types of visitor accommodation across the National Park. In doing so, the 2025 update will also help inform the South Downs Partnership Management Plan and Local Plan Review.

As part of the 2025 update, the SDNPA is very keen to receive the views of visitor accommodation providers operating in the National Park. The survey is open for participation until 6 June 2025. It consists of around 20 questions and should take approximately fives to 10 minutes to complete.

As a thank you for your participation, the SDNPA will randomly select one survey respondent and cover a year's subscription for the Green South Downs certification.