Up on the Downs

These iconic rolling green hills are part of a rich tapestry of landscapes here on the South Downs, chalk hills which stretch across the coastal counties of south-east England. For centuries, grazing sheep have helped keep the turf short, creating one of the richest wildlife habitats in Europe. Wildflowers and different species of butterflies thrive on its chalk grassland, but these days this rare habitat covers only about 4% of the Downs, a decline accelerated during World War II when much of it was ploughed to grow crops. The need to protect it, and to restore the Downs, was part of the reason the South Downs National Park was created in 2010 – the UK’s newest national park.
© Slawek Staszczuk/Alamy Stock Photo