FREE SOUTHDOWNS VIEWAUTUMN/WINTER 2019 Events Guide PAGE 10 Stargazing Discover the South Downs heaths of the is back South Downs PAGE 4 PAGE 15 SOUTH DOWNS DARK SKIES FESTIVAL ...................................4 HOW THE LOCAL PLAN WILL HELP DARK SKIES IN THE SOUTH DOWNS ................................................................5 PLAN YOUR BEE-FRIENDLY GARDEN .......................................6 SIMPLE WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR WATER ............................ 7 The South WHERE WILL YOUR ADVENTURE TAKE YOU... ......................8 Downs Centre EVENTS GUIDE .............................................................................. 10 DON’T LET THE DARKER MONTHS GET YOU DOWN ........13 Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9DH CHERRIES, GHOSTS AND VILLAGE FETES ............................. 14 01730 814810 DISCOVER THE HEATHS OF THE SOUTH DOWNS ...............15 Home of the National Park Authority, a community hub, visitor information centre and exhibition about the National Park. AUTUMN/WINTER 2019 AUTUMN/WINTER Front cover photograph © oversnap/istockphoto Opening Hours This magazine is printed on 90% FSC® recycled paper. This FSC® paper is sourced from FSC® certified mills and is from sustainable sources. Monday to Thursday: 09:00–17:00 Please Friday: 09:00–16:30 recycle me after use CONTENTS Saturday & Bank Holidays: (Easter to end of October only) 09:00–13:00 INFORMATION POINTS Aldershot Visitor Information Eastbourne Tourist Information Seaford Tourist Information Centre Centre Centre visit-hampshire.co.uk visiteastbourne.com seafordtown.co.uk 01252 320968 01323 415415 Worthing Visitor Information Arundel Visitor Information Haslemere Visitor Information Centre Point Centre discoverworthing.uk arundel.org.uk haslemere.com/vic 01903 221066 Bognor Regis Visitor 01428 645425 Winchester City Mill and Shop Information Point Horsham Visitor Information visitwinchester.co.uk/winchester- sussexbythesea.com Centre city-mill-shop Brighton Tourist Information visithorsham.co.uk 01962 870057 01403 597474 Point Winchester Tourist Information visitbrighton.com Lewes Tourist Information Centre 01273 290337 Centre visitwinchester.co.uk Burgess Hill Tourist Information staylewes.org 01962 840500 Centre 01273 483448 burgesshill.gov.uk/leisuretourism Littlehampton Tourist 01444 238202 Information Centre Keep up to date with all South sussexbythesea.com Chichester Tourist Information Downs news by signing up to our Centre Petersfield Town Visitor Centre monthly newsletter – southdowns. visitchichester.org visitpetersfield.com gov.uk/join-the-newsletter. 01243 950412 01730 268829 2 SOUTH DOWNS VIEW – AUTUMN/WINTER 2019 Welcome to the South Downs National Park With the nights drawing in and temperatures dropping it can be tempting to stay indoors and curl up on the sofa but don’t be put off, the South Downs National Park has so much to offer during the colder months. for some inspiration of the many attractions, nature Fancy gazing up at the Milky Way, or brushing reserves and countryside sites you can visit. up on your constellation knowledge? Get some extra layers on and get out to one of the dark sky To keep up to date with all the news of the discovery sites to find out why the South Downs South Downs National Park sign up for our monthly National Park has International Dark Sky Reserve enewsletter at southdowns.gov.uk/join-the- status. Or come to one of the many events taking newsletter. Remember to share your experiences place during the South Downs Dark Skies Festival – of this beautiful place by sharing your photos with us see page 4 for more details. on social media and tagging #southdowns. Enjoy! Nothing is better for shaking off the winter blues than getting some fresh air. On page 13 read about why getting closer to nature can really boost your mood during the darker months. Why not get out to see the stunning purples of the South Downs heaths in bloom this September – you’ll find a map of these Rebecca Saunders sites on page 15. Or take a look at the centre map Editor COME CELEBRATE COMPETITION OUR 10TH TIME! Win a powder pass jacket from ANNIVERSARY Columbia worth £100! Simply 2020 is a very special answer this question: year for the South Q: In what year did the Downs National Park. South Downs National Park become an International t was 10 years ago that a vision Dark Sky Reserve? became a reality. After years of passionate campaigning, England’s Visit southdowns.gov.uk/ newest National Park was born, columbiacomp to submit your answer designating 1600km2 of special and be entered into the draw for this Ilandscape with its breathtaking views, amazing prize. unique heritage and hidden gems for the benefit of the nation. We will be marking this special year in lots of different ways so please keep an eye on our website or even better sign up to our monthly enewsletter at southdowns.gov.uk/join-the- newsletter. SOUTH DOWNS VIEW – AUTUMN/WINTER 2019 3 SOUTH DOWNS DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 7–23 FEBRUARY 2020 Come and celebrate all things starry and dark! Running from Friday 7 February to glorious dark night skies we enjoy in Sunday 23 February our annual South the South Downs and want to hold Downs Dark Skies Festival includes talks, an event, or contribute a piece for our activities and star parties across the website please get in touch with us at length and breadth of the South Downs. [email protected] ©Anne-Katrin Purkiss We can help you plan it and help Please join in the fun! promote it. Get creative with our dark skies colouring wall As well as events and activities we will For full details of all events be inviting guest bloggers, scientists taking place during the festival visit and naturalists to post stories and southdowns.gov.uk/darkskies. experiences on our website and social media, so if you would like to be part Dates for your of our two week celebration of the diary The National Park’s popular ‘Stargazing South Downs’ event will be on tour again during the festival fortnight with indoor planetarium shows, talks on nocturnal wildlife, family activities, astronaut selfie booth and the opportunity to go outdoors and stargaze with the experts if the night is clear, there will be something for all ages. ©Anne-Katrin Purkiss The events will all run from 4.00pm until 8.00pm at the following locations: Dress up in the astronaut selfie-booth • Saturday 8 February 2020 at Midhurst Rother College • Tuesday 18 February 2020 at Petersfield Festival Hall • Thursday 20 February 2020 at Purkiss Anne-Katrin © Lewes Town Hall Learn about nocturnal wildlife © Anne-Katrin Purkiss 4 SOUTH DOWNS VIEW – AUTUMN/WINTER 2019 How the Local Plan will help dark skies in the South Downs In 2016 the South Downs National Park development does not harm became an International Dark Sky the quality of dark night Reserve (IDSR). skies. It also encourages the With only 13 of these reserves in the enhancement of the dark night world, safeguarding the quality of the skies of the National Park, for the dark night skies in the South Downs is of benefit of people and wildlife. It strategic importance. It is quite a challenge seeks to do this by ensuring that LOCAL PLAN with 2.2 million people living within 10km proposed lighting is necessary SOUTH DOWNS –33) of the National Park. and appropriate, and by reducing ADOPTED 2 JULY 2019 (2014 Our new landscape and sustainability the unnecessary light pollution that focussed South Downs Local Plan is often a result of poor design, was adopted in July 2019 and will be a all in order to minimise the overall valuable tool not only in setting out how impact of light. the National Park Authority will manage The Local Plan sets out how development over the next 15 years but development will be permitted also specifically in helping to protect our where it conserves and enhances the dark night skies. intrinsic quality of dark night skies across To see the full Local Plan visit: The purpose of strategic policy the entire National Park and the integrity of southdowns.gov.uk/SDLocalPlan SD8 in the Local Plan is to ensure that the dark sky core. How to embrace the • Take some snacks and a hot drink • Take a blanket or mat to lie on darkness • Take a compass or use the one on • Wrap up warm your smart phone Here are some top tips to help you make • Download a star gazing app to help Lookout for the Orionids the most of stargazing in the South you identify constellations and stars meteor shower which Downs: • Allow time for your eyes to adjust peaks on the night between • Check the phase of the moon to – this takes around 20 minutes so 21–22 October. plan your trip – stargazing is best turn off any lights, torches and put before a full moon your mobile phone away 1 Winchester Science 6 Iping Common WHERE TO FIND Centre & Planetarium 7 Bignor Hill 2 Old Winchester Hill THE TEN DARK SKY 8 Devil’s Dyke 3 Butser Hill 9 Ditchling Beacon DISCOVERY SITES IN 4 Buriton 10 Birling Gap THE SOUTH DOWNS 5 Harting Down The map below shows the dark skies quality across the National Park. The Liphook darker the colour, the better the quality 1 of the night sky. Dark Sky Discovery Sites have free parking and open access Winchester Petersfield Liss to great stargazing sites. 2 6 3 4 Midhurst 5 7 9 8 Lewes South Downs Worthing Eastbourne Planetarium, Brighton Chichester 10 SOUTH DOWNS VIEW – AUTUMN/WINTER 2019 5 PLAN YOUR BEE -FRIENDLY GARDEN Nothing lifts the spirit like a garden full of beautiful wildflowers and the buzz of bees, so why not get planning your pollinator friendly garden for the spring… 1 The iconic South Downs chalk grassland You might like to consider adding the with its stunning array of wildflowers following pollinator-friendly plants to your attracts a multitude of bees and butterflies.