AN exciting new funding scheme is giving local young people the chance to experience the great outdoors and get up close to our amazing natural world.

Grants have been awarded to a diverse range of youth organisations as part of the national park’s new South Downs Youth Action Fund.

The young people will be taking part in activities leading to positive social and environmental action in some beautiful locations in the park.

Among the projects given grants, 16 young archaeologists will discover the heritage of the national park at Butser Ancient Farm (pictured below), with help from Brighton Young Archaeologists’ Club.

And ten young refugees and asylum seekers rehomed by the Petersfield charity Rural Refugee Network will be able to take part in a South Downs discovery project.

A further ten young people will be able to develop heritage skills at the Weald and Downland Museum at Singleton.

The grants have been funded by the South Downs National Park Trust, the Clarion Futures charity and the

#iwillfund, a scheme supported by the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport and the National Lottery Community Fund.