WOODLAND BOOST PLANNED FOR NATIONAL PARK

South Downs NP aims to restore wildlife-rich habitats by 2031, including woodland equivalent to 4,200 football pitches

- James Fair

Visit Seven Sisters Country Park, in the east of South Downs National Park, in May and the abundance and diversity of insects is overwhelming, says park authority chief executive Siôn McGeever.

You might spot butterflies including the rare Adonis blue plus various mining bees, reflecting effective habitat conservation work. Now the national park authority has set out its five-year strategy for addressing nature loss, water shortages, river pollution, flooding and wildfires. Key goals include restoring or creating 3,300 hectares - more than 20 times the size of Hyde Park - of wildlife-rich habitat, and increasing woodland cover by 2,625 hectares (or 4,200 football pitches) by 2031.