Friends of the South Downs

24/11/2025

Our project in partnership with the Western Sussex Rivers Trust 💫

River Guardians are the first to notice pollution incidents on the rivers and streams of an area of 1,490 square kilometres. Trained by the team at the WSRT, they carry out essential surveys and report incidents to the Environment Agency and water companies.

Friends of the South Downs are supporting this vital work by a contribution of £10,00 0 supporting the Volunteer and Citizen Science Coordinator. Volunteers have already helped raise public awareness of the challenges facing our rivers and streams, and it is vital that this work continues. We want to ensure that this vital work can continue making a difference.

Thanks to our members and supporters, we can continue funding essential projects across the Downs like these, and members can get directly involved as River Guardians under the comprehensive volunteer citizen science programme.

Read more via our website, link in bio 🔗

18/11/2025

Perfect autumnal woodland captured on a guided Friends of the South Downs walk through East Dean yesterday 🍂

Walks leader Mick pointed out the site marked "Sargent's Tree" where Captain George Sargent was murdered by a highwayman in the winter months of 1807.

17/11/2025

Perfectly capturing the blue sky, green hills, and white chalk, unique to the South Downs ⚡

The picture-perfect landscape deserves our protection! Membership join info in the link in our bio - including free young adult membership 🙌

15/11/2025

Looking for something to do this Wednesday evening? Don't forget we have our online talk with author and campaigner Roger Morgan-Grenville at 7pm. Tickets via link in bio🔗

📸J. Pilkington
📍Milland, Hampshire

14/11/2025

It's Fri-YAY! Will you be out and about on the Downs this weekend?

With a diverse range of landscapes and habitats for you to explore, from ancient woodland to chalk streams, a day spent on the Downs is a day well spent.

📸C. Fowler
📍Cuckmere

13/11/2025

Even though ground-nesting bird season is past us, heathland sites are still a hive of activity across autumn and into winter.

Dartford warblers, who call the UK home all year round, are busy foraging among the vegetation. In the South Downs we have several spots of heathland habitats, which need extra protection due to their decline.

📸J. Bacon
📍Bepton

12/11/2025

Evenings may be darker at the moment but what about mornings like these...

Early wake ups and morning commutes would be easier if they looked like this every day 🤩

Amberley looking glorious!

📸Joe James

11/11/2025

Just look at that autumn colour 😍🍂

Views like these are a sight to behold at Queen Elizabeth Country Park.

Don't forget to look at our walks programme for this quarter! Link in bio🔗

📸I. Lancaster

07/11/2025

Trustee David Taylor recently caught up with Graham from West of Weald Woodsman, who’s bringing hedgelaying back to life on the Norfolk Estate 🌿✨

Using a centuries-old coppicing technique, Graham carefully cuts each stem just enough to bend it, keeping the cambium layer intact so the tree continues to grow. Supported with stakes and woven hazel or willow, the hedge slowly knits itself into a living, wildlife-rich boundary.

He’s crafting 340m of this beautiful, long-lasting fence, about 20m a day, a skill now rare in the age of tractors and flails.

Proud to see this heritage craft thriving thanks to experts like Graham, an active member of both the National Hedgelaying Society and the South of England Hedgelaying Society 🌱

20/10/2025

The Selborne Zig-Zag providing some autumnal views on a recent guided walk 🍂

The Hanger overlooking the village has a zig-zag path cut by Gilbert White and his brother.

📸I. Lancaster

14/10/2025

Our next event is not one to miss! 🚨

We will be joined by the best-selling author and campaigner Roger Morgan-Grenville for an online talk exploring his latest book, The Restless Coast.

⏰Wednesday 19 November 2025, 7pm via Zoom

Tickets here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/friends-of-the-south-downs/t-lnyvelk

Published in June 2025, Roger Morgan-Grenville's latest hardback The Restless Coast is a moving and beautiful account of a journey around the island of Britain. With over 10,000 miles of coastline, steeped in history and constantly shifting, changing, adapting and providing, the author travels around the length of the coastline to discover its challenges and opportunities, and to talk to the people trying to protect it.

Tickets are now available for The Restless Coast by Roger Morgan-Grenville: Online Talk at Online, Online on Wed 19 Nov 2025 at 7:00PM. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!

13/10/2025

Support Friends of the Dales with their latest campaign calling for an end to illegal bird of prey killing in the Yorkshire Dales.

Join the online event on Tues 21 Oct to hear from Kate Jennings, UK Head of Site Conservation and Species Policy, RSPB about the scale and impact of their persecution.

https://friendsofthedales.org.uk/events

A ground nesting short-eared owl - Amber Listed in the UK under the Birds of Conservation Concern 4 report since 2015.
Help us save this species by supporting our campaign.
More details – incl. for our 21 Oct online launch event - on our website.

Walking Photographer Raptor Persecution UK Campaign for National Parks RSPB Yorkshire Dales National Park