Looking forward to 2016
December 31, 2015
Happy New Year!
In the spirit of New Year resolutions we asked Trevor Beattie, Chief Executive for the South Downs National Park Authority what he’d like 2016 to bring:
“In 2016 we will continue our work to make the National Park more accessible, more widely understood and better protected. A particular priority will be to give more young people the chance to learn in the landscape so that they can develop the love of nature that lasts a lifetime.
“We will continue to resolutely protect our precious landscape but my particular hope for 2016 is that there will be many more opportunities than threats – with the New Year bringing new investment, a stronger rural economy and increases in our threatened species.
“I will be raising a glass of locally produced wine to that!”
And here are just a few more things we’re looking forward to in 2016.
Submitting our Dark Night Skies bid
Our Ranger Dark-skies-Dan and his group of dedicated volunteers have spent the past three years mapping out the quality of night skies across the National Park. This January he will finally be able to get some sleep after we submit our bid to the International Dark-Sky Association.
If you see us in February with all our fingers and toes crossed, this is why.
Revealing the Secrets under our High Woods
First we flew a laser-plane over the ancient South Downs woodland, then we sent our volunteers out to check what the ‘lumps and bumps’ really are. They’ve also been digging through archives and capturing local memories.
This summer we finally get to reveal what they’ve discovered with a Hidden Past festival in Portsmouth, a travelling exhibition, a book, community digs and a conference.
To say we’re excited is an understatement.
Supporting teachers to get more children learning outdoors
As well as using the South Downs as a resource across the entire school curriculum. Our third annual ‘Our South Downs’ teachers conference promises to be interesting, with workshops including using sheep to teach maths and considering the importance of poo.
Registration opens on 11 January at learning.southdowns.gov.uk
Finding out about more HLF bids
Have we been successful on our two very different Heritage Lottery Fund bids? One is to join up and improve rare heathland. The other to celebrate our cultural heritage in a book of community-inspired poetry.
Watch this space.
Celebrating sustainable transport
Our three-year Department for Transport-funded Local Sustainable Transport project comes to an end this spring so look out for our final campaigns promoting ways to enjoy the South Downs without your car. There will also be a new program of Discovery Bike Rides and we’ll be launching our Cycling Ambassador Scheme.
Planning for the future
The National Park needs properly managed development that conserves and enhances the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage for which it was designated and this autumn we will be consulting on the Publication, also known as Pre-Submission, version of the South Downs Local Plan. A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Preferred Options consultation in 2015. We will also be keenly awaiting the outcome of a number of Neighbourhood Plan referendums over the course of the year.
And, of course, we will be continuing our work to increase access, improve chalk grassland, support woodland management, reintroduce water voles, install barn owl boxes, encourage butterflies and much more.