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Below is a list of our successful Partnerships with the South Downs National Park Trust.
Southern Co-op has partnered with the South Downs National Park to plant thousands of trees as part of its “Trees for the Downs” initiative. This partnership commemorates the 15th anniversary of Southern Co-op’s Local Flavours food and drink range while contributing to the
National Park’s ReNature campaign—a nature recovery initiative creating habitats where plants and animals can thrive.
Thanks to a generous donation of over £14,000 from Southern Co-op, more than 7,000 new trees have been planted across the National Park, from Winchester to East Dean and Binstead to Slindon.
Southern Co-op has played a pivotal role in funding cutting-edge nature restoration projects across the UK, addressing the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.
By partnering with the South Downs National Park and Gatwick Airport, Southern Co-op has supported the development of Revere, an innovative funding model designed by global impact firm Palladium and UK National Parks. This model funds restoration projects such as peatlands, woodlands, wetlands, and grasslands in all 15 UK National Parks.
One standout pilot in the South Downs saw hundreds of acres of arable farmland converted into woodland pasture. Funded through the sale of carbon, biodiversity, and water quality credits, this project demonstrates the power of sustainable funding to improve landscapes and protect biodiversity.
In collaboration with conservation charity Plantlife, the South Downs National Park has established over 66 hectares of wildflower-rich habitats to support pollinators like bees.
Southern Co-op contributed £5,000 to this project, which focuses on creating and enhancing wildflower corridors, meadows, and verges. These lush habitats provide essential connective routes for pollinators to flourish.
Over decades, changes in farming practices have led to the loss or disrepair of dozens of dew ponds—vital wildlife oases across the South Downs.
The Pounds for Ponds initiative aims to restore 100 dew ponds across Hampshire and Sussex over the next decade, with a total investment of around £1 million. Southern Co-op provided
£10,000 in funding to help revive these crucial water sources, improving the availability of surface water on the chalk landscapes of the South Downs.
