Together Now for Nature, Climate and People
Partnership Management Plan 2026-31
Scroll down to explore
Double-click to select video
[Vision video here]
“I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is
I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is daring to dare.
Dr. Maya Angelou
Click the kestrel to hear their call.
A word from our Chair and Chief Executive
Tap the kestrel to hear their call.
Click the kestrel to hear their call.
Tap the kestrel to hear their call.
A word from our Chair and Chief Executive
As the challenges and opportunities facing this landscape are changing, so too must our responses. We must build on what is working, acknowledge what isn’t, innovate, try new things, create new partnerships, challenge ourselves, and embrace the role the National Park has to play in a greener, sustainable future. Transformation begins with a dream so together we must dare to dream of a different future.
This Partnership Management Plan is more than a report, it captures our seven collective ambitions for nature recovery, clean water, climate action, young people, cultural heritage, better access and darker skies, and to ensure that the South Downs is a welcoming place for all with thriving communities. It sets a clear long-term vision for what the National Park can and must be. It is ambitious. The South Downs National Park needs and deserves nothing less.
The South Downs National Park is an incredible place – one of beauty, inspiration and cultural heritage, a haven for nature and a place of people and for people.
It is part of a wider network of 61 extraordinary protected landscapes across the UK. Together we are at the forefront of responding to the nature and climate crises, and to ensuring that everyone across the UK feels welcome in and has access to nature, and all the health and wellbeing benefits that it brings.
In a time when the issues feel so great and people feel a lack of agency over the decisions being made around them, it is a powerful call to action for everyone, not just the few. This means you too!
The South Downs National Park was designated for us all and it will take us all to achieve the ambitious aims in this plan – farmers, communities, visitors, businesses, ecologists, rangers, planners, volunteers, children and young people, and people across all communities. The National Park Authority will work to bring people together, providing support and leadership where possible, as we reimagine the possible.
This is your National Park. Please join us and be a part
of delivering this bright future.
Vanessa Rowlands,
Chair
Siôn McGeever,
Chief Executive
Click the kestrel to hear their call.
Tap the kestrel to hear their call.
A word from our Chair and Chief Executive
The South Downs National Park is an incredible place – one of beauty, inspiration and cultural heritage, a haven for nature and a place of people and for people.
It is part of a wider network of 44 extraordinary protected landscapes across the UK. Together we are at the forefront of responding to the nature and climate crises, and to ensuring that everyone across the UK feels welcome in and has access to nature, and all the health and wellbeing benefits that it brings.
As the challenges and opportunities facing this landscape are changing, so too must our responses. We must build on what is working, acknowledge what isn’t, innovate, try new things, create new partnerships, challenge ourselves, and embrace the role the National Park has to play in a greener, sustainable future. Transformation begins with a dream so together we must dare to dream of a different future.
This Partnership Management Plan is more than a report, it captures our seven collective ambitions for nature recovery, clean water, climate action, young people, cultural heritage, better access and darker skies, and to ensure that the South Downs is a welcoming place for all with thriving communities. It sets a clear long-term vision for what the National Park can and must be. It is ambitious. The South Downs National Park needs and deserves nothing less.
In a time when the issues feel so great and people feel a lack of agency over the decisions being made around them, it is a powerful call to action for everyone, not just the few. This means you too!
The South Downs National Park was designated for us all and it will take us all to achieve the ambitious aims in this plan – farmers, communities, visitors, businesses, ecologists, rangers, planners, volunteers, children and young people, and people across all communities. The National Park Authority will work to bring people together, providing support and leadership where possible, as we reimagine the possible.
This is your National Park. Please join us and be a part
of delivering this bright future.
Vanessa Rowlands,
Chair
Siôn McGeever,
Chief Executive
The South Downs National Park is an incredible place – one of beauty, inspiration and cultural heritage, a haven for nature and a place of people and for people.
It is part of a wider network of 44 extraordinary protected landscapes across the UK. Together we are at the forefront of responding to the nature and climate crises, and to ensuring that everyone across the UK feels welcome in and has access to nature, and all the health and wellbeing benefits that it brings.
As the challenges and opportunities facing this landscape are changing, so too must our responses. We must build on what is working, acknowledge what isn’t, innovate, try new things, create new partnerships, challenge ourselves, and embrace the role the National Park has to play in a greener, sustainable future. Transformation begins with a dream so together we must dare to dream of a different future.
This Partnership Management Plan is more than a report, it captures our seven collective ambitions for nature recovery, clean water, climate action, young people, cultural heritage, better access and darker skies, and to ensure that the South Downs is a welcoming place for all with thriving communities. It sets a clear long-term vision for what the National Park can and must be. It is ambitious. The South Downs National Park needs and deserves nothing less.
In a time when the issues feel so great and people feel a lack of agency over the decisions being made around them, it is a powerful call to action for everyone, not just the few. This means you too!
The South Downs National Park was designated for us all and it will take us all to achieve the ambitious aims in this plan – farmers, communities, visitors, businesses, ecologists, rangers, planners, volunteers, children and young people, and people across all communities. The National Park Authority will work to bring people together, providing support and leadership where possible, as we reimagine the possible.
This is your National Park. Please join us and be a part
of delivering this bright future.
Siôn McGeever,
Chief Executive
Vanessa Rowlands, Chair
"The South Downs National Park is an incredible place – one of beauty, inspiration and cultural heritage, a haven for nature and a place of people and for people.
It is part of a wider network of 44 extraordinary protected landscapes across the UK. Together we are at the forefront of responding to the nature and climate crises, and to ensuring that everyone across the UK feels welcome in and has access to nature, and all the health and wellbeing benefits that it brings.
As the challenges and opportunities facing this landscape are changing, so too must our responses.
We must build on what is working, acknowledge what isn’t, innovate, try new things, create new partnerships, challenge ourselves, and embrace the role the National Park has to play in a greener, sustainable future.
Transformation begins with a dream so together we must dare to dream of a different future.
This Partnership Management Plan is more than a report, it captures our seven collective ambitions for nature recovery, clean water, climate action, young people, cultural heritage, better access and darker skies, and to ensure that the South Downs is a welcoming place for all with thriving communities. It sets a clear long-term vision for what the National Park can and must be. It is ambitious. The South Downs National Park needs and deserves nothing less.
In a time when the issues feel so great and people feel a lack of agency over the decisions being made around them, it is a powerful call to action for everyone, not just the few. This means you too!
The South Downs National Park was designated for us all and it will take us all to achieve the ambitious aims in this plan – farmers, communities, visitors, businesses, ecologists, rangers, planners, volunteers, children and young people, and people across all communities. The National Park Authority will work to bring people together, providing support and leadership where possible, as we reimagine the possible.
This is your National Park. Please join us and be a part of delivering this bright future."
Siôn McGeever, Chief Executive
Vanessa Rowlands, Chair
Our Priorities
Nature loss and climate change are impacting the landscape, nature, water, communities, businesses, our day-to-day lives, and our health and wellbeing.
Working together in the South Downs National Park we can restore our habitats and species, store vast amounts of carbon and lead the way in how we live, work and visit.
We must act together now.
We have spoken with partners, farmers, residents, communities, parishes, local authorities and other public bodies, visitors, businesses and specialists to help identify a clear set of shared and challenging priorities for the next five years to help us to work together to make this vision a reality. Two key, interconnected themes have emerged – Nature & Climate and People & Place.
Nature & Climate
© Sam Moore
Nature & Climate Aims:
1. Nature Recovery
2. Climate Action
3. Clean Water
People & Place
© SDNPA
People & Place Aims:
4. Young People
5. Welcome & Access
6. Cultural Heritage
7. A Thriving, Greener Place
The truth is: the natural world is changing. And we are totally dependent on that world. It provides our food, water and air.
Sir David Attenborough
Our Pritorities
Nature Recovery
Climate Action
Clean Water
Young People
Welcome and Access
Arts and Heritage
Thriving Greener Place
Our Pritorities
Nature Recovery
Climate Action
Clean Water
Welcome and Access
Young People
Arts and Heritage
Thriving Greener Place
Our Pritorities
Nature Recovery
Climate Action
Clean Water
Young People
Welcome and Access
Arts and Heritage
Thriving Greener Place
Our Pritorities
Nature Recovery
Climate Action
Clean Water
Young People
Welcome and Access
Arts and Heritage
Thriving Greener Place
Explore each of the aims below.
Nature & Climate
People & Place
Use the wheel below to explore each of the aims.