A national park has welcomed a report calling for a 'lifeline for wildlife'.
South Downs National Park has praised a detailed new report by charity Campaign for National Parks, which has called for greater support in national parks up and down the country.
In response, South Downs National Park has outlined what has been done so far to help wildlife in the region.
Interim Chief Executive of the South Downs National Park Authority, Tim Slaney, said: "Nature is in crisis and national parks need to be at the heart of raising our national ambitions and delivering a future where nature is thriving rather than simply surviving.
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“We welcome the spotlight on nature from the Campaign for National Parks’ health check report on nature recovery. The report identifies some of the serious challenges facing National Parks across England and Wales as we look to deliver thriving, nature-rich landscapes, and a lack of enough, consistent and long-term funding, and lack of power over how land is managed.
“That is why we and other National Parks developed Wildlife Delivery Plans and in 2021, we launched our ambitious South Downs ReNature Campaign – 33 per cent by 2030 – in partnership with the South Downs National Park Trust.
"The initiative aims to create 13,000 hectares of new habitat and ensure the remaining 67 per cent of the National Park is nature-friendly through improving existing habitats across farms, woods, rivers, towns and villages.”
Since launching its ReNature Campaign, the South Downs National Park Authority and Trust have helped to create over 400 hectares of new wildlife habitat, while 4312 hectares of existing habitat has been improved for nature. 14 ponds have been created or restored for the benefit of many species in the park.
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Some 60,000 trees have also been planted on 114 different sites across the park as part of the Trees for the Downs initiative in the last five years, and more than 66 hectares of wildflower habitat has been created for pollinators through the Bee Lines project.
Mr Slaney said: “We know there is still much to be done and we have big plans for the future.
"We are committed to working in partnership with landowners, local authorities, NGOs, businesses, communities, volunteers and the public to deliver for nature, climate and people and we are currently working on over 368 active nature recovery projects with our partners.
“We must remember that nature doesn’t exist in isolation and neither can its recovery. National Parks must deliver on their dual and intertwined purposes to deliver for nature and people. Access to nature is a crucial part of the goal to cement nature as a cornerstone in everyone’s lives.
"That is why our ReNature Campaign is all about creating nature everywhere, for everyone. We warmly welcome CNP’s call for a Citizen’s Assembly for each National Park to inform our management plan.
“Now is the time for action and we need everyone to join us in playing their part, no matter how small, in turning the tide for nature.”
The full report by Campaign for National Parks can be read at cnp.org.uk/health-check-report.
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