Storrington’s new Stork Mural Needs Our Fundraising Support
A major new street artwork is coming, and you can be a part of it! This exciting project now has the go-ahead with full planning permission. We seek to raise £3,500 over the next two months to cover the costs of a stork mural and interpretation board at Place Villerest. An ambitious target, but with
Connecting children with the Hampshire Downs of National Park
An exciting initiative to connect schoolchildren with the wonders of the Hampshire Downs returns for 2026. Last year more than 600 children benefitted from school trips and learning opportunities in the National Park, thanks to a generous grant from Friends of the South Downs. The project, called Explorers of the South Downs, is now back
A walk on the wild side at Westerlands
Henrietta, Trustee and Marketing Communications Expert, recounts the guided tour of Westerlands Farm in Graffham, Petworth, led by farm manager Oliver Hancock. Farming is no longer what it once was. With changes in UK tax and government policy, global tariffs and increasing complexities of a fast-changing climate, farmers are having to adapt, and fast. The
Launch of the Free Young Adult Membership
Friends of the South Downs are excited to announce the launch of a new, free membership targeted to people aged 18-30. A new membership programme, aimed at young adults, has recently been launched by the Friends of the South Downs. The aim of the programme is to broaden and expand the membership base and strengthen
South Downs for All Project in Hampshire Update
After a busy few months of delivering workshops, Chris Hare, Project Manager, and Michael Blencowe, Local Wildlife Expert, reflect on their experiences working with schools across Hampshire. Visiting Hampshire Schools: Chris Hare, Project Manager What a busy start to the year we have had with our new South Downs for All Project with Hampshire Schools.
South Downs for All Project Launched in Hampshire
Having concluded our South Downs for All project with Sussex schools last year, we are now delighted to bring the same heritage learning opportunities to seven partner schools in Hampshire. These schools struggle financially and have many pupils with special learning needs or from homes classed as being low income or with issues of family
Storrington and Knepp Wildland: The UK’s only European Stork Village
In 2024 Knepp Wildland applied to have the Knepp Estate and Storrington jointly designated as a ‘European Stork Village’ It is worth reading on to learn about the background to these festivities. The association of Storrington with storks is clear, although there are alternative interpretations. It is often stated that the Saxon name for Storrington
The South Downs Local Plan Review
Our formal comments on the South Downs Local Plan Review The first public consultation on the Review of the South Downs Local Plan ended on 17th March. The Local Plan is a very important document for the South Downs National Park as it sets out both the policies against which planning applications will be assessed and
Award Winning Performances at The University of Brighton
An interview with Haari Aswat, who won the Robert Thurston Hopkins Award for 2024. Two years ago, trustees decided to create links with Brighton University to foster interest in the Downs from high achieving young people who could make a difference during their future careers. As part of this initiative, on 1 August two important
Special Sanctuary for Nature
Noar Hill The gentler landscapes of the National Park in Hampshire have their own special beauty. The open western Downs are some of the most tranquil areas in the Park. From the scarp slope north of Petersfield and the internationally important ‘hanger’ woodlands, to the chalk rivers of the Itchen and Meon and the Yew
