Groups in and around the South Downs National Park are being encouraged to share climate action tips as a new "knowledge hub" is launched.

The past decade has seen a huge increase in the number of climate action and environment groups across Hampshire, Sussex and Surrey.

Volunteers have started their own local initiatives to tackle climate change in both towns and rural areas.

The national park has now launched the South Downs Climate Action Network on Knowledge Hub, where community groups can share information on their projects and provide insights, learning and expertise.

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Fulking Escarpement in the South Downs (Image: Sam Moore) The hub will be a useful resource for residents who want to start new groups or projects in their own communities.

The co-chair of Greening Arundel, Katrina Murray, warmly welcomes the initiative.

Greening Arundel was only formed last year but has already had some wins, including transforming a 120-metre pathway from the train station with hedgerows and wildflowers, as well as installing upcycled cattle troughs that are now full of herbs for the public to eat.

Katrina said: "My husband and I felt despondent and kept bumping into others who felt the same way. The penny dropped and we started working together and supporting each other.

"The momentum has been building as people saw the results and we began believing that we can make a positive difference."

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Dr Chris Sandom, a senior lecturer at the University of Sussex and also director of Wild Business, which has been working with community groups to establish climate action plans, said: "It’s far better that we collaborate and have a say in the change required to tackle climate change, than to deal with the change that will be imposed on us by climate change."

Sara Osman, the national park’s climate officer, said: "Climate action can seem overwhelming and it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking nothing you do will make a difference.

Sara Osman, South Downs National Park climate officer (Image: South Downs National Park Authority) "But actually, by realising that we are part of a wider network of people taking action, large and small, we realise that collectively we can make a big difference.

"There’s so much fantastic community work going on across the region and this new hub will bring together all that locally-based knowledge and learning into one place.

"We hope it will inspire more people and communities to get involved in tackling the climate and nature crisis."