News from the South Downs
National Park Update
For the latest information about the designated South Downs National Park please go to our homepage.
Press release archive
Meon at Midlington gets a Makeover
The Meon Valley Partnership and Wild Trout Trust joined forces with local landowner, Danny Bower, to carry out habitat improvement work on the River Meon at Midlington for the benefit of brown trout and river wildlife.
Full Story2010 - The Year of Biodiversity
The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. To commemorate this landmark year, each month we will be publishing an article on a habitat or species closely associated with the South Downs which illustrates the diversity of wildlife that can be found in this unique landscape.
February - The South Downs Farmland Bird Initiative
Skylark on Downland © RSPB
This initiative concentrates on three bird species – Lapwing, Grey Partridge and Corn Bunting. Providing habitat for these birds will also have major benefits for other farmland species like Skylark, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Turtle dove, Brown hare and in many cases rare arable plants. These species occur across the South Downs and Coastal Plain, so habitat creation anywhere in the area will be beneficial. Being relatively high up the food chain, farmland birds are a good indicator of the level of biodiversity on farms. Thriving bird populations indicate that the lower end of the food chain e.g. beetles, spiders, insects, worms, broadleaved weed seeds etc, is also healthy. In order to achieve this, the South Downs Joint Committee, Natural England and the RSPB, are encouraging farmers and land managers to adopt measures that provide the ‘Big 3’ – safe nesting habitat, summer and winter feeding areas. Research has shown that if sufficient quantities of the ‘Big 3’ are provided for farmland birds, their populations can be boosted. For information on the South Downs Farmland Bird Initiative contact rjames@southdowns-aonb.gov.uk.
For more information on the UK partnership supporting the International Year of Biodiversity: www.biodiversityislife.net
Previous month's articles
January - Wetlands and Wetland birds (Adobe Acrobat)
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Rangers View Podcast
Every month South Downs Joint Committee Ranger, Bruce Middleton gives us an expert's view on on the ever changing landscape of the Downs. As the seasons come and go the Downs undergo dramatic changes. Keep track of the flora and fauna, agriculture and wildlife throughout the seasons. You can also read the Bruce's summary of the month here
