This event is a part of the South Downs GeoTour. You can earn 2 bonus points per person for attending this event and helping to support the conservation of the National Park. Don't forget to bring your GeoTour Passport.
What is it all about?
The challenge is to remove the grass and flower cuttings from the chalk grassland and litter pick in area immediately surrounding the car park. The task is hugely important, if we were to leave the cuttings the nutrients levels would build-up, resulting in a loss of all the beautiful flora that is associated with our iconic chalk grassland. This in turn would mean the fauna utilise these would disappear. Since World War II, the country has lost around 80 per cent of grasslands like these. In the South Downs they now cover just 4 per cent of the National Park’s area. Over one-third of the sites are less than one hectare in size. Ideally a site of at least 20 hectares is needed to secure the future of this important habitat. The smaller the ecosystem, the less resilient it becomes.
There will be moderate physical effort and bending and lifting involved, so here’s a great opportunity to get outdoors, meet new people and help conserve your local patch.
What do I need?
No specific skills are required just enthusiasm for the task and a willingness to work with others - it’s a team effort and we want you to have fun! You will be joining West Sussex County Council and the South Downs National Park Authority in helping to conserve your local area whilst meeting new people and enjoying a day out too.
You will need to bring old clothes, sturdy footwear (preferably steel toe-capped), waterproofs or sun protection depending on the weather, plenty of drinking water and packed lunches. We will meet in Kithurst car park (grid ref. TQ 069 125) at 10am where we'll do a safety briefing and then head up to the work site. Any latecomers are welcome, please find Sam or Hannah when you arrive.
Please write a note to log how many people can attend...
If you need any more information please contact geocaching@southdowns.gov.uk or call Hannah on 01730 819249. On the day you can reach Sam on 07872 410434 or Hannah on 07872 410454.
More information...
Kithurst Meadow and Road Banks
Aside from its outstanding natural beauty and stunning views, this site and the surrounding area boasts a rich flora and fauna. A fantastic site for orchids, particularly the Common Spotted, Pyramidal and Early Purple. You can also observe raptors soaring on the thermals rising up from the Downs.
Kithurst Meadow and the immediately surrounding area are regarded as one of the finest, yet potentially vulnerable butterfly sites in West Sussex, based on the exceptionally diverse range of species, with an astounding 34 species being recorded.
As well as being incredibly important in its own right, Kithurst forms a vital part of landscape-scale ecological network enabling the movement of flora and fauna, increase the resilience to external pressures into the future.
Pair of Platform Barrows and a Bowl Barrow at Kithurst Hill car park
The barrows in the car park form part of a group of 13 constructed along this part of the ridge, forming a dispersed, linear round barrow cemetery.
The bowl barrow has a circular mound c. 13m in diameter and up to 1.2m high with a central hollow, indicating antiquarian excavation during the 18th 19th centuries. The mound is surrounded by a ditch from which material used to construct the barrow was excavated.
Public Transport:
Nearest bus stop: opp. Paddock Wood 619 Houghton
Nearest train station: Amberley