Nature Recovery
Wildlife has been depleted on the South Downs. We want to do what we can to help nature recover. To that end we are helping to finance nature recovery projects. We are supporting a Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust project at Noar Hill and a Sussex Wildlife Trust project at Ebernoe Common. We are also supporting two citizen science projects on water quality.
Some of our current projects
Ebernoe Wildlands Habitat Management with the Sussex Wildlife Trust
Ebernoe is a varied ancient wood pasture with ponds, streams, meadows and reclaimed arable land under conversion back to woodland. Here we are funding no-fence cattle collars to facilitate grazing and scrub clearance to improve this habitat, particularly for nightingales.
Citizen Science Volunteer Opportunities with Rivers Trusts
We have formed an exciting project with two local Rivers Trusts (Western Sussex Rivers Trust and Ouse & Adur Rivers Trusts) 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 action, such as outfall monitoring, Riverfly monitoring, and invasive species control.
Noar Hill Nature Reserve
Noar Hill is a beautiful chalk downland nature reserve and a site of special scientific interest. We are funding a survey of invertebrates, the creation of scrapes to encourage wildlife, and no-fence cattle collars to make grazing easier.
More to explore
Children & Young People
The Friends are investing heavily in helping children to get to know and appreciate the Downs.
Planning
Our planning policy guidelines provide the basis of our campaign and help us respond to new developments and planning applications.
Access
Work we are undertaking to encourage as many people as possible to access the Downs.
Conservation
Wildlife has been depleted on the South Downs. The Friends share the view that we should do what we can to help nature recover.