South Downs National Park Designated

2010

The South Downs National Park was formally designated on 31 March 2010 and became fully operational on 1 April 2011, becoming England's newest national park. The park stretches for 87 miles from Winchester in the west to Eastbourne in the east, covering the chalk downland, wooded hangers and river valleys of Hampshire and Sussex. Chichester sits immediately to the south of the park boundary, and the downs rise steeply from the coastal plain to form a dramatic backdrop to the city. The Trundle, the Iron Age hill fort that overlooks Goodwood racecourse, is one of the most prominent viewpoints on the southern escarpment. The designation brought new protections to the landscape around Chichester and strengthened the management of the countryside that the city depends on for its setting, its walking and cycling routes, and its tourism appeal. The Centurion Way, which connects Chichester to the Downs through the Lavant valley, provides direct access to the national park on foot or by bicycle. The South Downs Way, the national trail that runs along the ridge of the downs from Winchester to Eastbourne, passes within a few miles of the city. The national park authority, based initially at a temporary office and later at its permanent headquarters in Midhurst, works with local councils including Chichester District Council on planning and conservation matters. The park's designation has reinforced Chichester's position as a gateway to the downs.