Natural England - South Downs ESA

South Downs ESA

The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme has now closed to new applicants and has been superseded by the Environmental Stewardship scheme. Some existing agreements will, however, continue until 2014.

The South Downs ESA extends for 260 square miles over the chalk downland ridge that runs from Beachy Head near Eastbourne in the east through to the Meon Valley, Hampshire in the west. The range of hills is bounded on the northern side by a steep escarpment and characterised by rolling chalk downland and dry valleys.

Description

The South Downs is recognised as one of the most important chalk landscapes in England and most of the area has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and this is a proposed National Park. The area has been inhabited since ancient times and is very rich in historical features, including defensive sites, burial mounds and field boundaries. It is the traditional sheep grazing on the Downs that has given rise to the characteristic closely grazed chalk downland turf.

Significant habitats and species

There are thirty seven Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) within the boundary of the ESA, including large areas of chalk grassland. Unimproved chalk grassland can be very species rich and supports many rare species of plants, invertebrates and birds. There are also three river valley SSSIs in the ESA, which contain valuable wet grassland and ditch habitats. 26 of the SSSIs are managed under ESA agreements. The ESA scheme aims to protect and improve the wildlife conservation value of existing chalk grassland, by promoting the use of more traditional grassland management methods. It also seeks to increase the area of arable land reverted to permanent grassland. The scheme was launched in 1987, and by the end of 2001 around 14,000 ha of land had been entered. Current farming in the area is a mix of livestock, mainly sheep, with arable farming and some dairy farms.

ESA management options

There were four main options available within the South Downs ESA:

  • Maintenance and enhancement of species-rich swards in permanent chalk grassland, through the implementation of grassland management plans and prescriptions for the control of scrub and weeds. Maintenance of walls, hedges, ditches, traditional barns and dew ponds were also required.
  • Management of permanent grassland in the river valleys by the above prescriptions, maintenance of ditches and water levels, and a traditional summer grazing regime.
  • Reversion of arable land to permanent chalk grassland, and the reversion of arable land to permanent grassland (other than chalk).
  • Retention of winter stubbles and arable field margins.

Contact

Natural England's Reading office