long beach band

Declared a National Park only in 2011, this latest National Park promises visitors a thousand six hundred square kilometres of landscapes that are as diverse as it is breath taking. It consists of the largest chalk landscapes and cliffs in the country, but it offers more than just the scenery, spectacular as that is. There is much to see and do, ranging from outdoor activities to battlefields and ancient architecture. This busy part of England has many vibrant villages where it is possible to truly taste the local culture.

The South Downs area has an interesting history. In ancient times it used to teem with wildlife, game birds and an abundance of indigenous plants and forests. About six thousand years ago, however, traditional wildlife grazers were methodically replaced by domestic stock. Thousands of grazing sheep and other farming activities over the centuries eventually resulted in the fine, short, springy turf that typifies the area today.

South Downs Way is arguably one of the longest trails in England. It is a hundred and sixty kilometres long and follows the old routes along the chalk escarpment and ridges. The route is open to hikers, riders and cyclists. The route is rich in wildlife and indigenous plants. In some places it is possible to enjoy more than fifty different species of plants per square metre. Bird enthusiasts are often able to spot Golden Finches, Buzzards, Red Kites and Pheasants. The park authorities plan to re-introduce many more species. Lucky and observant visitors may even spot the extremely rare, beautiful Adonis butterfly. Hikers are able to travel light by hiring one of the many companies that are able to transport luggage from one overnight point to the next. For pure exhilarating tranquillity and beauty this trail would be very hard to beat.

One particularly interesting landmark well worth a visit is the Long Man of Wilmington. It consists of a giant hill figure situated high on a hillside in Wilmington. One of the most fascinating aspects of the figure is that the sixty nine meters high figure is designed to look in proportion when viewed from below. From close up it is utterly distorted. The origins of the figure remain a mystery, although many scholars are of the opinion that it is a manifestation of Neolithic astral religion. Its position marks the constellation Orion’s movement across the ridge above.

Many famous people lived in the South Downs area. Rudyard Kipling called it “Our blunt, bow-headed, whale-backed Downs”. Other notables who called this area home include Jane Austin, Virginia Woolf and Lord Tennyson. Modern day visitors are sure to experience the same attraction to the area that was felt by these notables. This National Park is a worthy addition to England’s fine collection of protected heritage areas.