Campaigning
Our vital campaigning work is to respond and influence the outcome of planning applications and environmental issues, contributing to local neighbourhood plans and commenting on the emerging plans for the whole of the South Downs National Park.
We focus on the potential impact on the National Park and base our comments not merely on a subjective response but on the confirmed planning policy at local and national level. While most of our responses relate to proposals inside the National Park, we also consider developments outside the park if we feel they might impact significantly on the park.
We also work in partnership alongside the South Downs Trust to help support their activities, to see more land managed for wildlife, more rare habitats protected, more local communities thriving and more people able to access and enjoy the landscape.
Most of our campaigning work is undertaken by our planning volunteers, known as District Officers who form the Society’s Planning & Conservation Committee. We are seeking volunteers to support with our latest environmental projects with the Western Sussex Rivers Trust. Please get in touch with the office via the contact form to find out more.
Conservation
We offer volunteering opportunities to all our members, who support a huge array of projects to help improve access and preserve the landscape of the South Downs for the enjoyment of everyone, for future generations. For example, our Area Access Officers help us ensure that our footpaths and bridleways remain open and accessible across whole of the National Park.
Some of our current projects include:
- Citizen Science Volunteer Opportunities with Western Sussex Rivers Trust
We have formed an exciting project with WSRT offering members the chance to sign up as volunteers to help test water quality of rivers in the catchment. The project provides data for analysis and subsequent action, such as outfall monitoring, riverfly monitoring, and invasive species control. - Ebernoe Wildlands Habitat Management with the Sussex Wildlife Trust
The Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) has a site at Butcherlands, just to the north of Petworth and within the National Park. This site, which adjoins Ebernoe Common, has historically had one of the highest nightingale populations in the country. The SWT are looking to enhance the nightingale habitat at the site. Friends of the South Downs have approved a contribution to support managed clearing of the nightingale territories over the next few years. The SWT wants to avoid changing the site habitat too quickly lest it might drive the nightingales away. It is a case of optimising the existing habitat to support and encourage the existing population. - RESTORING ACCESS
Improvements to the surface of the South Downs Way. The society provided funding to refurbish a 1km badly worn part of the South Downs Way near Plumpton.See our Projects & Impact page for more details.
If you would like to help us, we currently have some vacancies for District Officers and Area Access Officers, in a number of areas.
