A new independent study found that the park generates the highest gross value added (GVA) of any English national park at £3.84 billion, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the total GVA from all 10 of England’s national parks.

Farming in South Downs National Park. (Image: SDNPA)

A spokesperson for the South Downs National Park described the findings as showing it was the “economic powerhouse” of England’s protected landscapes.

Siôn McGeever, chief executive of the South Downs National Park Authority, said: “This is a really significant study for us and shows that National Parks are bigger players in the UK economy than many realise – and we’re growing fast.

“It’s actually the manufacturing and knowledge-based technical sectors that are growing most quickly, challenging assumptions that Britain’s beautiful landscapes are purely about tourism and farming.

“This is partly fuelled by the fact that National Parks are places where people want to work and that enhance workers’ wellbeing.”

The South Downs is home to nearly 6,000 businesses and employs about 61,000 people.

It has seen around 10 per cent growth in productivity since the Covid-19 pandemic, outpacing the wider South East.

Sion McGeever Chief Executive South Downs National Park Authority. (Image: Tim Slaney)

The report also highlights the park’s evolving economic landscape.

Mr McGeever said: “Nature-based solutions are a rapidly growing area in the National Park, where corporations and developers can invest in creating new woodlands, grasslands and wetlands that also help fight climate change, and ultimately it’s farmers and land managers who will deliver these.

“Without them we cannot deliver our nature targets and we cannot grow the food we need. So it’s really important that government policy continues to support these emerging markets.”

Recent projects include a major nature restoration scheme at Halnaker Hill Farm near Chichester.

Halnaker Hill Farm in the South Downs National Park is one of biggest nature restoration projects in Britain. (Image: Anthony Hurren)

The project is restoring around 330 acres of land to its historic natural state. It will create a mix of habitats including hedgerows, grassland, ponds and wildflower meadows.

Registered with South Downs National Park Authority and Natural England, the site is one of the largest Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) land banks in the UK.

It will provide 856 BNG units for sale across the UK to support biodiversity and climate targets.