Brighton and Hove's parkland protected for years with council plan

The Downs and parkland in and around Brighton and Hove will be “enhanced for future generations” through the proposal, known as The City Downland Estate Plan.

Covering around 13,000 acres of land owned by the council, the plan aims to make sure this “vital asset” reflects the wishes of the people in the city.

Among the thousands of acres of land is farmland, as well as parkland used for leisure, sport and recreation.

Included in the plan, launched at Wilding Waterhall nature reserve in Saddlescombe Road, Brighton, last week, are commitments to increasing biodiversity and restoring rare chalk grassland.

Council leader Bella Sankey at the launch (Image: Brighton and Hove City Council)

The plan will also support the city to become carbon neutral.

It also aims to improve health and wellbeing in Brighton and Hove by increasing access to nature for everyone.

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Councillor Tim Rowkins, chair of the city environment, South Downs and the sea committee, said: “44 per cent of our city’s footprint is South Downs and we have an enormous responsibility to protect this beautiful landscape.

“The fact that so much of it is publicly owned gives us incredible opportunities in terms of biodiversity, carbon neutrality, sustainable local food production and the wellbeing of our residents.

“78 per cent of the estate is farmland, and this plan seeks to transition from the late 20th century, intensive farming model towards a more sustainable approach for the future.

“Wild chalk grassland is incredibly species-rich, but 97 per cent of what we used to have in the UK is now gone. This plan gives us the opportunity to begin to reverse that trend.

“We’re very excited to be able to start implementing this ambitious plan.”

The event where the plan was launched (Image: Brighton and Hove City Council)

The plan is the result of more than two years of work, including one of the "most extensive" consultations ever carried out by the council. More than 31,000 comments and ideas were put forward.

Residents, farmers, environmental groups and nature organisations as well as recreational users and the South Downs National Park Authority helped shape the plan.