The Secretary of State Hilary Benn has signed the Order to confirm the South Downs National Park - making it England's 9th and the United Kingdom's 14th National Park.

 

Local people can now be certain whether or not their home will be inside the new South Downs National Park as Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced its finalised boundary. The Secretary of State's commitment to the creation of a South Downs National Park was emphasised by his signing the designation order in Ditchling, which lies within the confirmed boundary of the National Park. The order will bring the Park into existence from 31 March 2010.

 

The first members of the new National Park Authority will be appointed and in post from April 2010. They will, over the following 12 months, agree how the National Park will be run and what its priorities should be. During this time, the South Downs will continue to be managed by the South Downs Joint Committee (SDJC).

 

Martin Beaton, SDJC's Countryside Officer, said:

 

"The South Downs National Park has been 60 years in waiting and today we are one step closer to permanent protection for this unique working landscape. We now have a definite boundary and our experienced staff, rangers and conservation volunteers look forward to working with the new National Park Authority members. Together, we will work to establish the best National Park for the 21^st Century and beyond."

 

Alice Holt Forest in Hampshire and Green Ridge to the north of Brighton have both been included within the boundary, along with other areas of land that were considered at the public inquiry in August 2009.

 

Detailed boundary maps can by found on Natural England's website at: www.naturalengland.org

 

 

 

For local comment from the South Downs Joint Committee about the addition of Alice Holt Forest, please call Alison Tingley: 02392 591362. For additional areas around Brighton, including Green Ridge, please call Richard James: 07866 961858

 

 

The South Downs Joint Committee works in partnership with the South Downs Volunteer Ranger Service to protect this internationally important landscape. The aim of the committee is to protect, conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the South Downs, promote opportunities for the understanding and quiet enjoyment of the area's special qualities and encourage sustainable forms of economic and community development. The Joint Committee is currently working with Defra to create an effective National Park Authority for the future South Downs National Park.

 

The South Downs comprises the East Hampshire and Sussex Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) covering an area of 1,366 sq km running from Eastbourne to Winchester. The South Downs is one of more than 50 protected landscapes in England and Wales (National Parks and AONBs). Most of the land within East Hampshire AONB and Sussex Downs AONB has been designated as part of the South Downs National Park, the boundaries of which were confirmed on 12 November 2009. www.southdownsonline.org