A NEW scheme is giving corporations an opportunity to get involved with nature recovery and staff volunteering in the great outdoors.

The South Downs Protector Scheme, which launched on June 12, invites businesses to support the national park for a year with a £10,000 contribution.

The donation will fund the park’s ambition to create 13,000 hectres of new habitat where plants and animals can thrive. The ReNature initiative is tackling biodiversity loss by creating significant new areas of woodland, hedgerow, wildflower meadow, and wetlands over the next decade.

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Businesses which sign up for the scheme will receive volunteering days in the landscape of the South Downs National Park, a ranger talk, and corporate getaway opportunities at the Seven Sisters Country Park. They will also receive a one-year subscription to the Green South Downs Sustainability Certification Programme, which focuses on helping businesses reach sustainability goals.

As the scheme launches, two businesses are already on-board: Brighton-based firms Clarity Environmental and Groundsure.

James Winkworth, head of charity at the South Downs National Park Trust, the official charity of the park, said: “We’re really excited to be launching the Park Protector initiative and are looking for corporate partners right across the UK.

“Businesses are a 'force for good' and vital to the future of this treasured landscape. As Britain’s youngest National Park we’ve achieved a lot in 13 years, but there’s so much more we can do to make this an even better place and protect it for future generations.

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“The truth is that this is a fragile landscape in the busiest part of the UK and it needs a lot of support. Businesses can make such a significant impact by becoming a Park Protector, helping in the fight against biodiversity loss and climate change, while also demonstrating ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) commitments and creating a meaningful legacy.

“This is also a wonderful opportunity for colleagues to be able to get their hands dirty, and their feet muddy, and get involved in some hands-on conservation work!”

To find out more about becoming a Park Protector, visit: oursouthdowns.co.uk/page/SupportNP.