Arun Countryside Network Page

South Downs National Park

Maves has worked in partnership with the South Downs National Park, sharing at local level its goals to understand, conserve and enhance the special qualities of our landscape.

Environmentally and for its long views in the landscape, the whole MAVES study area (and possibly some other parts of Arun District) could have qualified for inclusion in the National Park:  the rare flushed fen habitat of the secluded Binsted and Tortington rife valleys with their grazing marshes, and the more open watermeadows east of the Arun, were assessed by environmental organisations to meet the standards for natural beauty.  But the boundary was pushed northwards because parts of the area only have limited recreational access, and also because of the uncertainties surrounding the Arundel Bypass, and the decision to exclude the town of Arundel.

So the Arun District is relevant and important to the National Park, whether within its boundary, or, forming a very important part of its setting in the dip slope and estuarine coastal plain.  Wildlife, and people, go to and fro between its open countryside and its woodland - the wildlife to meet their mixed habitat needs, the people for their recreational or business needs. 

The National Park has funded some of our dormouse survey boxes - click here to read about the Maves dormouse project.

Below, you will find links to other organisations who are active in support of conserving and enhancing the MAVES area's countryside, or the kinds of wildlife, habitats and rural heritage that are found here.

Partner Organisations represented on our Steering Group:

Our Partner Universities have included:

    University of Brighton                                        University of Portsmouth                 University of Sussex                             

We gratefully acknowledge grants in kind or funds received from: