DOZENS of volunteers are needed to help restore and connect rare heathland between Petersfield and Longmore with similar sites across the south downs.
Heathland at Durford Wood, Coldharbour Wood, Chapel Common and Longmore, among other local beauty spots, will be the focus of the Heritage Lottery funded environmental restoration, the Heathlands Reunited Project.
Overseen by the South Downs National Park Authority, it’s goal of the five year project is to record, monitor, restore and hopefully link heathland across the South Downs.
Heathlands Reunited Project Manager Bruce Middleton said: “From getting involved in practical tasks to researching your local heath’s heritage, and taking photographs to monitoring wildlife.
“This is a great opportunity to get outside, meet new people and discover new places at the same time as helping rare and endangered wildlife and safeguarding an important space for recreation in your local community.”
Heathland covers just one per cent of the national park and is mostly separated into ‘islands’ where isolated plants and animals are far more vulnerable to local extinction.
For example heaths in the South Downs provide a home to all twelve of our native reptiles and amphibians.
To find out more join the heathland volunteers information morning from 10am to 12.30pm on Sunday, December 11, at the South Downs Centre, North Street, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9DH.
The Heathlands Reunited project is being led by the South Downs National Park Authority, working with 11 partners on 41 heathland sites.