Big ambitions unveiled for South Downs National Park and beyond in major strategy - South Downs National Park Authority

A five-year masterplan has been unveiled today (28 January 2026) to build the critical natural infrastructure we need to tackle the challenges we all face of nature loss, pollution in our rivers, flooding, water shortages, and the ever-increasing risk of wildfires.

The ambitious plan for the South Downs National Park includes helping more young people take action for nature, being a more welcoming and accessible space for all, and protecting and improving our precious dark skies.

It comes as a government assessment on national security, released last week, concluded that continued biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse pose serious risks for food security, energy, water supplies, and geopolitical stability.

Working alongside a range of fantastic partners, including farmers, environmental organisations, communities and businesses, the National Park Authority has adopted its Partnership Management Plan – the most important document for any National Park. The strategy lays out what the Authority and its partners want to deliver over the next five years.

The plan is the next step towards the National Park’s vision for 2060 – a thriving, buzzing nature-rich South Downs. It has been developed over 18 months and comes after several rounds of consultation and engagement across the region.

A range of ambitious targets have been agreed, including increasing tree canopy and woodland cover by 4,200 football pitches (2,625 hectares) by 2031 to help store carbon, soak up water and create vital new havens for wildlife.

A goal of restoring or creating more than 3,300 hectares of wildlife-rich habitats by 2031 has been agreed – an area the size of Worthing or Hayling Island. These new havens are outside current protected nature sites and will help significantly boost regional biodiversity in the long-term and increase resilience to higher temperatures and flooding.