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
Sussex’s English Elms need your help
With the warm summer weather, the South Downs Joint Committee (SDJC) is reminding landowners and residents to be on the look out for the first signs of Dutch Elm Disease. Elm Disease is caused by a fungus and is one of the most virulent tree diseases known.
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.
July/August - Heaths of West Sussex
Heathland, West Sussex
Lowland heathlands are confined to the rainy, temperate climate on the western margins of north-west Europe. 95% of the total area of this habitat in Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands and Britain has now been lost through conversion to improved pasture or arable, afforestation, for building or through neglect of management. The lowland heaths of south-eastern England and northern France form a sub-division known as the Anglo-Norman Heaths. Very little of this habitat is left in northern France and so the lowland heaths of West Sussex are extremely important. The West Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey heathlands are a reservoir for a wide range of flora and fauna that are mainly confined to acid sands. They are of international importance for their rich diversity of breeding and wintering birds, including nationally important breeding populations of nightjar, woodlark, Dartford warbler and wintering hen harriers. A large number of invertebrates, including dragonflies, spiders, bees, wasps, flies and butterflies are red data species and/or UK BAP species. The heaths also provide habitats for all of Britain’s reptiles and amphibians. In the past the heaths of West Sussex were far more extensive than today. The heaths were being managed through grazing and harvesting natural products like birch which was being used for broom making, bean sticks and fire wood, as had been done for hundreds of years before, bracken was harvested for stock bedding and gorse was used for animal fodder. In 1813 it is estimated the area of open heath in West Sussex was 6505 hectares. The heaths of West Sussex remained open until after the last World War. After the war the management of these sites changed dramatically and many of the sites were either converted into arable or forestry production. By 1991, the heaths in West Sussex had been reduced to only 337.8 hectares. The once open areas of heath had been reduced to small and isolated pockets leaving the heaths fragmented and vulnerable to change. The Sussex Heathland Forum was established as a result of the 1992 Rio Summit, with the intension to encourage all landowners and managers of these internationally rare heath habitats, to work together to increase the existing sites and connects them via corridors across the county. With the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Sussex Wealden Greensand Heaths Project was created (2002-2008) and together with the Forum partners the heath area was increased to 977 hectares within the South Downs part of West Sussex. Since then the Southdowns Joint Committee has continued to lead on the Forum and work with partners to continue the work of the Sussex Wealden Greensand Heaths Project. There is now over 1000 hectares of open Heathland in West Sussex. The heathlands are also highly valued for their use for recreation by walkers, horse-riders and those exercising dogs. They are an excellent educational resource used to demonstrate the inter-relationship between local history and ecology. In 1991, 32 heathland sites were high-lighted by Dr Francis Rose within this area. Today, there are 55 heathland sites of various sizes.
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)
February - South Downs Farmland Bird Initiative (Adobe Acrobat)
March - The Brown Hare (Adobe Acrobat)
April - The English Elm (Adobe Acrobat)
May - The Field Cricket (Adobe Acrobat)
June - Chalk grassland (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
