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The Camping and Caravanning Club Greenfields House, Westwood Way, Coventry, CV4 8JH Tel: 0845 130 7632
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National Parks We have 2 National Parks within the Southern Region. The South Downs and The New Forest. It is important that we look after these areas of outstanding natural beauty and maintain the fine balance between enjoying the special qualities of these wonderful places, supporting their local economy and social fabric and protecting and conserving them for future generations. To help us achieve this goal The Region has two National Parks Officers who monitor the camping activity of DAs and Special Interest Sections within the Region. The National Parks Officers also liaise with other Club Units, Local Authorities and other organisations who have an interest in the National Parks. The Region also has a Countryside Care Officer who coordinates assorted countryside care activities throughout the Region enabling those of us who have got so much out of the countryside to put a little back.
South Downs National Park - Report by Southern Region National Parks Officer for South Downs - Peter Maltby. February 2011 Camping in the South Downs The Government started the process of designating the South Downs as a National Park back in 2000 and the Designation Order finally came into effect in April 2010 after two long Public Inquiries. The National Park includes not only the chalk geological formation of the Downs themselves but also the lowland heaths which lie to the north known as the “Western Weald”. The area extends from Eastbourne in the east to Winchester in the west – about 72 miles and from just north of Havant and Chichester to just south Farnham and Hazlemere. The towns of Lewes, Petworth, Midhurst and Petersfield are all included within the Designated Area. As at February 2011 The Ordnance Survey had not published any maps showing the National Park boundary and the most reliable information about this is on the Natural England website at www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/new/southdowns/default.aspx. The Club (and all the other major Camping and Caravanning Clubs too) has agreed to give advance notice to the appropriate National Park Authority of all of our camping events within that National Park. Including the South Downs A Club Green Paper requires Sites Secretaries to enter details of their proposed events in the National Park on to the Clubs Sites Database by 1st May in the year preceding the event. The Green Paper covers all the UK National Parks including the South Downs and the New Forest. A National Park’s purposes are not only to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Park but also to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of its special qualities. National Park Authorities also have a duty to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of their local communities. An area of land is only appropriate as a National Park if it contains significant opportunities for recreation so the status of the South Downs as a National Park does not mean that we should cease camping in the area. In theory at least, National Park status puts us in the Club in a stronger position to enjoy our chosen recreation within it than under the previous designation as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) where there was a strong emphasis on conservation but without the second purpose of enjoyment. The “fostering of the economic and social well-being” bit is also important. Club HQ carried out a survey a few years back which showed that that we spend nearly £30 per unit/night when we are out and about. And many rural shows or village carnivals and other festivities would fail without our support. So I look forward to hearing about lots of events in the South Downs Enjoy! Peter
Contact National Parks Officer Contact Countryside Care Officer visit the DEFRA website www.defra.gov.uk for more details of national parks. www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/issues/landscap/newforest/pdf/boundary-map.pdf to see the New Forest National Park map and boundary on the DEFRA website. click here to launch camping in national parks forms in a Microsoft Word format |
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