South Downs National Park

England's newest national park on Goodwood's doorstep

The South Downs National Park, designated in 2010 and formally opened in 2011, encompasses the chalk downland, wooded valleys and heathland that stretch from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex. The Goodwood estate sits within and adjacent to the national park, and the landscape that surrounds the estate's sporting facilities is among the most attractive and ecologically important in southern England.

The national park designation recognises the South Downs as a landscape of national significance for its natural beauty, wildlife, cultural heritage and the opportunities it provides for outdoor recreation. The chalk grassland of the Downs is one of the most biodiverse habitats in the country, supporting a rich community of wildflowers, butterflies, birds and other species that have adapted to the thin, alkaline soils over millennia. The orchids of the South Downs, including bee orchids, pyramidal orchids and fragrant orchids, are a particular highlight of the summer flora.

The section of the national park around Goodwood includes the open downland above the racecourse, the Trundle hillfort, the beech hangers of the Lavant valley and the chalk streams that flow south towards Chichester Harbour. This landscape has been shaped by centuries of farming, with sheep grazing maintaining the short-cropped turf that characterises the Downs. The Goodwood estate's organic farming practices contribute to the conservation of this landscape, and the estate works with the national park authority on habitat management, access provision and conservation projects.

For visitors to Goodwood, the national park provides an immediate context of natural beauty that enhances every aspect of the visit. The views from the racecourse are across national park landscape. The roads that approach the estate wind through national park villages and downland scenery. The walks, rides and drives that complement a day at the races or the motor circuit take place within or adjacent to the national park boundary.

The South Downs Way, the 100-mile national trail from Winchester to Eastbourne, crosses the high ground above Goodwood and provides a walking and cycling route through the heart of the national park. The trail follows the ridge of the Downs, offering panoramic views in all directions, and it passes several of the most significant archaeological and historical sites on the route, including The Trundle, the Neolithic causewayed enclosure above Goodwood.

The national park authority manages a programme of events, guided walks and educational activities throughout the year. These include ranger-led walks, wildlife surveys, volunteer conservation workdays and family events that introduce children to the natural environment. Many of these activities take place in the Goodwood area, and the estate's facilities provide a base for groups exploring the national park.

The relationship between Goodwood and the national park is symbiotic. The park's protected landscape provides the setting that makes Goodwood's events so distinctive, while the estate's events and facilities bring visitors who discover and appreciate the national park as a result. The South Downs National Park is not a wilderness; it is a living, working landscape that accommodates farming, sport, recreation and conservation within the same boundaries, and Goodwood exemplifies that integration better than any other estate within the park.