South Downs Trust

Children crouching in a wild flower area in school grounds

Match Funding opportunity to help more children access the National Park

This is your chance to double your donation during the week of 22-29 April 2025 for this year’s Green Match Fund campaign to help disadvantaged youngsters get a taste for nature in the South Downs National Park.

A lapwing bird with the distinctive crest standing in muddy grass

Huge wildlife boost is agreed for South Downs wetland

Much-needed improvements to encourage more birdlife at RSPB Pulborough Brooks have been given the green light by the National Park Authority.

Image of the sun rising through the trees at Chanctonbury Ring in the South Downs National Park

Vital repairs to iconic Chanctonbury Ring in South Downs National Park

Access to one of the most sacred – and spookiest – spots on the South Downs has been improved in time for the spring.

Beelines Fund Boosted in New Partnership between National Parks UK and Howdens

UK National Parks has announced a new two year partnership with trade kitchen supplier Howdens to support nature recovery across some of the country’s most important natural landscapes.

Downs to the Sea project gets underway

Work on the “Downs to the Sea” initiative begins in time for World Wetlands Day, with a bumper action plan to restore and create a network of “blue spaces” in the landscape.

Christmas comes early to National Park with huge donation

The South Downs National Park has received an early Christmas present with a big funding boost from OSB Group.

Image of Pen Hill a nature restoration project in the South Downs National Park

Celebrating an amazing year of giving back to nature

It’s been an incredible year for helping wildlife in the South Downs National Park.

Volunteers at the Woodingdean Wilderness CIC helping to plant trees as recipients of the South Downs National Park's Trees for the Downs initiative.

Triumph for trees as National Park’s huge planting scheme edges closer to target

Some 20 sites across the length and breadth of the National Park are benefitting from tree planting thanks to Trees for the Downs, which launched five years ago and is led by the South Downs National Park Trust, the official charity for the National Park.

RSPB Pulborough Brooks at ideal water height - image shows flooded landscape

Wonderful news for wetlands as £1.7m funding announced

A huge funding boost will help restore precious wetlands across the South Downs region and help raise awareness about the vital importance of water in all our lives.

Young group of summer camp participants looking over the Cuckmere river at Seven Sisters Country Park

Outdoor education opportunities for young people in the South Downs National Park given funding boost from Hydro Flask

As part of their Parks for All program, US company Hydro Flask have donated over £10,000 in 2024 to the South Downs Trust to help more young people living in cities to access the outdoors and access the health and wellbeing benefits of the National Park.

image of wildflowers growing in the rough area of Pyecombe golf course in the South Downs

Golf courses coming together to fight biodiversity loss

Golf clubs across the South Downs National Park and beyond are coming together to help fight biodiversity loss.

A group of volunteers getting ready to receive traditional scything skills from a CPRE Hampshire training session

Wildlife friendly volunteers scything to restore Magnificent Meadows

Two recent grants given by the South Downs Trust have had a big impact on effective meadow management in the Winchester area, offering free training to locals to learn the art of scything.

aerial image of the river Ouse and valley in East Sussex.

Community celebrates incredible climate action

A wave of inspiring climate action has been kickstarted thanks to a groundbreaking lottery-backed initiative in the Ouse Valley. From scores of children learning to ride bikes, to new community vegetable gardens, climate hubs, river tours, volunteer training and energy-saving workshops, people across the Lewes, Seaford, Peacehaven and Newhaven areas have been busy doing their bit to help their local environment.

image showing visitors to an open day at Nyetimber vineyard in the South Downs National Park.

Join us for an Exclusive Open Day at Nyetimber

Back by popular demand, we are pleased to invite you to attend another exclusive Nyetimber Open Day in aid of the South Downs National Park Trust on Friday 30 August.

Walkers and cyclist next to the river Ouse in east sussex

Ouse Valley Climate Action – Community Pitch 2023-24

The Ouse Valley Climate Action (OVCA) project invited organisations in East Sussex to bid for a prize to turn their sustainability idea into practical action. Ideas had to meet the OVCA project themes of reducing carbon usage, supporting nature and enhancing wellbeing, knowledge and skills around climate change.

image showing a taster day for Timber-repair-in-the-Gridshell at Weald-Downland-Museum

Investing in Heritage Building Crafts – SCF fund

Through our Sustainable Communities Fund, support has been given to the Sussex Heritage Trust to deliver “taster day” opportunities to try out building conservation crafts.

Image of Aspinal of London's bee charm for a necklace or bracelet

WIN – Bee-autiful necklace and bee charm up for grabs

In celebration of World Bee Day that took place recently, we’ve got a stunning necklace and bee charm in gold, part of their bee-themed accessories to give away, courtesy of Aspinal of London.

Image shows National Park Ranger Lawrence Leather next to the restored Newbarn Pond at Seven Sisters, East Sussex

Vital ponds for nature are given new lease of life

Eight derelict dew ponds have been lovingly restored and are now thriving with new life, thanks to funding of over £90,000 from the South Downs National Park Trust.

Image of the opening of new interpretation boards celebrating the lost railway at Steyning and Bramber

Lost Railway at Bramber – the story revealed – SCF grant

Funded by the Sustainable Communities Fund (SCF) the four interpretation boards are located near to Bramber in West Sussex.

National express bus travelling in the countryside with overhanging branches and a field in the foreground.

New partnership with National Express Transport Solutions

Hundreds more schoolchildren will be able to enjoy inspiring school trips to the National Park than in previous years, thanks to an innovative new partnership between the South Downs National Park and National Express Transport Solutions.

Lady Emma Barnard with National Park Assistant Ranger Gemma North after planting a tree for West Sussex to celebrate the King's coronation

Treemendous! Village marks King’s Coronation with special tree planting

A beautiful wildlife corridor of trees has been planted in the centre of a South Downs village to mark The King’s Coronation.

A barn owl flying with a small rodent in its talons

More homes for barn owls in the Ouse Valley

A VCF grant has enabled a volunteer-led project to install six barn owl boxes and three little owl boxes around the Lower Ouse valley.

Major tree planting in National Park brings boost for nature

More than 23,000 trees are being planted this winter across the South Downs National Park to help wildlife flourish and increase resilience to climate change.

Bringing back the birds – SCF Fund

A grant from the South Downs Trust Sustainable Communities Fund has been awarded to the Arundel Community Orchard Group to help the town become a haven for wildlife.

Community Pitch: £500-£5,000 awards to tackle climate change in the Ouse Valley

Exciting grants initiative launched for green projects in Ouse Valley