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South Downs Plans Million Tree Bonanza
24 Nov, 2025
Summary
- South Downs National Park will plant a million more trees by 2035.
- The campaign has raised over £400,000 and planted 117,700 trees.
- New woodlands could store millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) has announced ambitious plans to plant one million more trees by 2035, significantly exceeding its initial target. The "Trees for the Downs" campaign has already raised over £400,000 and successfully planted 117,700 trees across 150 sites.
This initiative includes the planting of disease-resistant elms, vital for supporting threatened species like the white-letter hairstreak butterfly. With over 40,000 trees planted this winter alone, the park's campaign is described as "just getting started" and demonstrates a strong public affection for trees.
The potential new woodland areas are estimated to be vast, potentially storing over 37 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. SDNPA foresters emphasize planting diverse native species in appropriate locations to combat biodiversity loss and address climate change.
