Go to The South Downs National Park Main website

An Act of Parliament in 1949 led to the establishment of all UK National Parks.

Mark Greco wildlife prints Silk screen and giclée prints of wildlife of the South Downs – The hedgehog | © Mark Greco

Mark Greco wildlife prints Silk screen and giclée prints of wildlife of the South Downs – The treecreeper | © Mark Greco

Orchids, Beacon Hill

The River Itchen. A rich chalk river habitat with a wide diversity of plant and animal life. | © Nigel Ridgen

Mark Greco wildlife prints Silk screen and giclée prints of wildlife of the South Downs – The Blackbird | © Mark Greco

Woolmer Forest

Mark Greco wildlife prints Silk screen and giclée prints of wildlife of the South Downs -The goldcrest | © Mark Greco

Tree creeper – A small woodland bird that eats insects found on tree trunks.

Stag beetle – A fascinating beetle that spends years as a larvae growing in rotting wood

Oak hook-tip moth – A well camoflaged moth; the larva feeds on oak

Corn marigold – A brightly coloured wild flower that often grows as a weed in corn fields but is an important nectar source for insects and bees

Barley – A common cereal crop grow for food, brewing and animal feed.

Stone curlew – A rare summer visitor to the South of England. Will they been seen the the South Downs this year?

Chalkhill blue butterfly – A beautiful butterfly seen on chalk grassland, especially on horseshoe vetch.

Birdsfoot trefoil – A food plant for many butterflies including many “blues” that are found in the South Downs

Bee orchid – A beautiful “bee like” flower that can be seen in June and July on chalk grassland

Southdown sheep – A sturdy local breed that grazes on grassland

Bog bush cricket – Typically found in bogs and wet heathland.

Sundews – carnivorous plants that are specially adapted to live in wet, nutrient poor, acidic soils.

Sand lizard – A sand lizard can grow up to 25cm long!

Barn Owl – often found on Farmland where they hunt for small mammals.

Adder – one of our native reptiles

Chalkhill blue butterfly – A beautiful butterfly seen on chalk grassland, especially on horseshoe vetch.

Birdsfoot trefoil – A food plant for many butterflies including many “blues” that are found in the South Downs

Southdown sheep – A sturdy local breed that grazes on grassland

South Downs Poppies

Map 4.1 Distribution of designated wildlife sites of national and/or international importance | Maps prepared by: GeoSpec, University of Brighton; April 2012. | Source: Natural England, 2011 | Ordnance Survey Crown Copyright © Licence No. 100050083.

Figure 4.1 Chalk grassland SSSI units in the National Park | Source: Natural England (2012) England SSSI Unit Condition Assessments, Natural England. Analysis by Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre

Map 4.2 Chalk grassland and lowland heathland distribution within the South Downs National Park | Maps prepared by: GeoSpec, University of Brighton; February 2012. | Source: Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre and Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre, 2011 | Ordnance Survey Crown Copyright © Licence No. 100050083.

Chalk Grassland

November 13th, 2015

Introducing chalk grasslands – the European equivalent of tropical rainforests. Covers what they are, where they are found, how they were formed and why its important to look after them. Also looks at what is being done locally in the South Downs to conserve and improve them for the future.