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.
Our Area Access Officers help us ensure that our footpaths and bridleways remain open and accessible across whole of the National Park. If you would like to help us, we currently have some vacancies for Area Access Officers, in small local areas.
For more information about volunteering see our VOLUNTEERING page.
Some of our current projects include:
MILES WITHOUT STILES
We have agreed with the South Downs National Park Trust to replace some stiles on paths within the park with kissing gates. This project will enable many less mobile walkers to use popular paths that are currently impossible for them to use because they cannot climb over stiles. Following our £10,000 investment and matched funding from the National Park Trust, this project is now underway for the replacement of approximately 24 gates, where old style have become
damaged on dangerous to use. The new gates are locally manufactured in oak and sourced from within the managed woods of the South Downs National Park.
LOG SEATS
We have agreed to provide funding for much needed seats on popular paths and near car parks, in particular on the South Downs Way. Plans are underway with the Park Authority to design and
manufacture log seats from locally felled trees. The South Downs Trust has agreed to match our funding for this welcomed project.
RESTORING ACCESS
The thin soils of the South Downs Way can be quickly eroded and the exposed soft chalk is then easily cut by flowing water. Several parts of the South Downs Way are in a poor state. The South Downs National Park Authority is funded to maintain this long distance national path, but does not have funds for significant improvements, resulting in steady deterioration.
We have funded £15,000 to support the repairs of the Plumpton Plain section with a further £10,000 being funded by the National Park Trust. This is a popular section of the South Downs Way between Ditchling Beacon and Lewes which runs along the crest of the Downs with far reaching views across the Weald. It attracts over 80,000 walkers per year. This section is almost completely flat, but water lying on the track causes the surface to quickly degrade.
This restoration will have a long term benefit. The repairs will be carried out sympathetically to provide a safe route for people to enjoy. The track will be taken up and replaced with new chalk or clean recycled crushed concrete to a depth of 150–300mm to bring levels up to the required height, before being compacted and profiled. Possibly finished with a covering of limestone dust to improve the grip and weather resistance.