South Downs National Park Trust
The official charity of South Downs National Park in southern England, delivering nature recovery, environmental education and community grant programmes across Sussex and Hampshire through donations, lottery grants, and corporate partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersMidhurst, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What South Downs National Park Trust does
South Downs National Park Trust is the official registered charity of the South Downs National Park in southern England, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Midhurst. Operating in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority, the Trust delivers nature recovery, environmental education and community engagement programmes across Sussex and Hampshire. Its core work centres on habitat creation, restoration and conservation — delivered through a portfolio of grant programmes including ReNature (targeting 13,000 hectares of new wildlife habitat by 2030), Trees for the Downs (117,700 trees planted across 150 sites), Beelines (pollinator corridors), Pounds for Ponds (dew pond restoration), and the Downs to the Sea wetland restoration initiative.
The Trust funds its activities through a diversified mix of individual donations, corporate partnerships (including OSB Group, Hydro Flask, Aspinal of London), grant funding (notably £2m from the National Lottery Community Fund in 2022 and £1.7m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2024), Visitor Giving schemes with hotels, restaurants and wedding venues, and a voluntary Biodiversity Credits product. It distributes funds via direct grants to schools (214 schools supported), community groups, landowners and farmers through programmes such as the Sustainable Communities Fund, Community Pitch, and Outdoor Learning Grants. The Trust operates a community-led and event-driven go-to-market, supported by digital channels including a twice-yearly newsletter, social media, and impact films. Strategic partners include National Parks UK, RSPB, PlantLife, Brighton & Hove City Council, Western Sussex Rivers Trust, and 1% for the Planet.
South Downs National Park Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- South Downs National Park Trust
- Legal name
- South Downs National Park Trust
- Website
- https://southdownstrust.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The official charity of South Downs National Park in southern England, delivering nature recovery, environmental education and community grant programmes across Sussex and Hampshire through donations, lottery grants, and corporate partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
South Downs National Park Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nature Conservation Charity Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Biodiversity, Conservation & Natural Capital Funds (FSANAJAG), Nature-Based Credits Trading (Forestry/REDD+, Soil Carbon, Blue Carbon) (EUAGAIAK)
Keywords
Where South Downs National Park Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Midhurst
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
South Downs National Park Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Regular donations from individuals, including online giving through Enthuse platform, direct debits, and one-time gifts to support nature recovery projects.
- Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with businesses including OSB Group (£90,000 over 3 years), Hydro Flask (£10,000+), Aspinal of London (percentage of bee collection sales), and Visitor Giving scheme with hotels/restaurants.
- Visitor Giving: Businesses invite customers to add donations to bills or purchases. Since 2019 over £25k raised. THE PIG-in the South Downs donated £14,181.93 in 2024-25.
- Gifts in Wills: Legacy giving programme encouraging supporters to leave gifts in wills to the Trust, with dedicated legacy events at Seven Sisters Country Park.
- Grants from Foundations: Major grants including £1.7m from National Lottery Heritage Fund for Downs to the Sea project, National Parks UK partnerships, and lottery-backed OVCA funding.
- Event Revenue: Exclusive events like Nyetimber Open Days at £50 per person, with full ticket price donated to the Trust.
- Biodiversity Credits: Voluntary Biodiversity Credits scheme allowing organisations to purchase credits supporting nature recovery projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Nyetimber Open Day tickets |
| Donation/ grant-funded | Multi-year contract | Outdoor Learning Grants for schools |
| Donation/ grant-funded | Multi-year contract | Community Pitch grants |
| Donation/ grant-funded | Pay-as-you-go | Health & Wellbeing Travel Grants |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
South Downs National Park Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The South Downs National Park Trust is the official registered charity for the South Downs National Park. It raises and distributes funds through donations, corporate partnerships, and grants to deliver nature recovery, habitat restoration (pollinator corridors, tree planting, dew pond restoration, wetlands), environmental education for schools and youth, and community climate action programmes across Sussex and Hampshire in South East England.
Product overview
South Downs National Park Trust operates as a charitable organization offering a portfolio of grant programs and initiatives focused on nature conservation, environmental education, and community engagement within the South Downs National Park. The core programs include the Beelines Fund for pollinator corridors, Trees for the Downs for tree planting, Pounds for Ponds for dew pond restoration, and the ReNature Fund for broader nature recovery goals. Additional offerings include the Sustainable Communities Fund for heritage and community projects, Outdoor Learning Grants for school trips, Health & Wellbeing Travel Grants for community access, and the Visitor Giving Partnership for corporate donations. The Downs to the Sea initiative addresses wetland restoration in partnership with RSPB and local authorities. These programs work together to achieve the Trust's goal of increasing land managed for nature from 25% to 33% by 2030.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ReNature: Nature recovery initiative aiming to create 13,000 hectares of new wildlife habitat and make 67% of the National Park nature-friendly by 2030
- Trees for the Downs
- Beelines
- Pounds for Ponds
- Ouse Valley Climate Action
- Downs to the Sea
- Visitor Giving
- Community Pitch
Products and services
- Beelines Fund
- Trees for the Downs Fund
- Pounds for Ponds Fund
- ReNature Fund
- Sustainable Communities Fund
- Outdoor Learning Grants
- Downs to the Sea
- Youth Action Fund
- Health and Wellbeing Travel Grants
- Volunteer Conservation Fund
- Visitor Giving Partnership
- Nyetimber Open Days
- Community Pitch
- Voluntary Biodiversity Credits
Quantifiable outcome
- 6,082 hectares created or improved for nature recovery
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use South Downs National Park Trust
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
South Downs National Park Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
South Downs National Park Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, significant, flagship and minor.
- National Parks UKcoreNational Parks UK announced a two-year partnership with Howdens to support nature recovery across UK National Parks, including the Beelines project in South Downs.
- National Express Transport SolutionsmajorPartnership providing discounted coach travel at £295 for schools visiting the National Park. Includes Lucketts Travel, Mortons Travel and Worthing Coaches.
- 1% for the PlanetcoreEnvironmental partner network started by Patagonia founder. Trust joins as environmental partner to advance ReNature campaign impact.
- RSPBcorePartner in Downs to the Sea project, providing access to Pulborough Brooks and Pagham Harbour for wetland restoration work.
- Brighton and Hove City CouncilcorePartner in Downs to the Sea project, leading restoration of historic village pond at Falmer.
- Western Sussex Rivers TrustcorePartner in Downs to the Sea project, supporting wetland restoration work in Arun Valley.
- Writing Our LegacycorePartner in Downs to the Sea leading creative opportunities for underrepresented communities to engage with wetlands.
- Lewes District CouncilcoreKey partner in OVCA project along with 10 other organisations working on climate action in Ouse Valley.
- OVESCO (Ouse Valley Energy)majorCommunity energy organisation hosting OVCA Energy Team at Lewes Climate Hub, providing energy efficiency advice.
- Action for ConservationmajorYouth conservation charity running summer camps at Seven Sisters Country Park with Trust funding support.
- CPRE HampshiresignificantCountryside charity delivering Hampshire Magnificent Meadows project and Hampshire Hedge project through Sustainable Communities Fund.
- PlantLifecoreConservation charity providing specialist advice for Beelines project on wildflower seed selection and habitat management.
- South Downs National Park AuthorityflagshipOfficial charity status for the National Park Authority. Trust enables funding and donations to support SDNPA conservation work.
- THE PIG-in the South DownssignificantCountry hotel and restaurant raising £14,181.93 through Visitor Giving scheme adding £1 to restaurant bills.
- Upwaltham BarnsminorWedding venue in National Park encouraging couples to support Trust through Visitor Giving scheme.
- BKC RestaurantsminorLondon restaurants adding opt-out donations per cover to support Trust conservation work.
- Nyetimber EstatesignificantVineyard hosting exclusive open days at £50/person with full ticket price donated to Trust.
Scale indicators21 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
South Downs National Park Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Wildlife Trusts: UK-wide federation of 46 local Wildlife Trusts managing land for nature. A broader incumbent working across habitat restoration, advocacy and visitor engagement overlapping with South Downs Trust's conservation work.
- RSPB: Largest UK wildlife conservation charity, partner on South Downs Trust's Downs to the Sea project. Operates Pulborough Brooks within the National Park and shares nature-recovery and education mandates.
- National Trust (UK): Major UK conservation charity protecting heritage sites and natural landscapes. Larger, broader portfolio incumbent with overlapping nature recovery, education and access objectives.
Emerging players
- Plantlife: UK wild plant and habitat conservation charity providing specialist advice to South Downs Trust's Beelines pollinator corridor programme. Focused peer for the wildflower meadow and chalk grassland work.
- CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England): English countryside charity delivering heritage, landscape and community projects, including partnerships with South Downs Trust (e.g., Hampshire Magnificent Meadows). Overlapping advocacy and conservation scope.
Direct peers
- Yorkshire Dales National Park Trust: Official charity of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Direct peer — both are National Park-affiliated charities funding conservation, education and community programmes in their respective UK National Parks.
- Lake District Foundation: The Lake District Foundation is the conservation charity for the Lake District National Park, raising funds for nature recovery, education and cultural heritage — an almost identical mandate to South Downs Trust.
- Cairngorms Nature: Conservation initiative of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, focused on habitat restoration and species recovery. Comparable focus on large-scale nature recovery targets within a UK National Park context.
- Peak District National Park Foundation: Charitable arm of the Peak District National Park supporting conservation, access and education projects. Closely comparable in mission and operating model to South Downs Trust.
- Exmoor National Park Trust: Trust supporting Exmoor National Park's conservation and access objectives. Smaller-scale National Park charity with similar grantmaking and partnership structure to South Downs Trust.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
South Downs National Park Trust social profiles
Digital presenceSouth Downs National Park Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
South Downs National Park Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
South Downs National Park Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
South Downs National Park Trust M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about South Downs National Park Trust
What does South Downs National Park Trust do?
The South Downs National Park Trust is the official registered charity for the South Downs National Park. It raises and distributes funds through donations, corporate partnerships, and grants to deliver nature recovery, habitat restoration (pollinator corridors, tree planting, dew pond restoration, wetlands), environmental education for schools and youth, and community climate action programmes across Sussex and Hampshire in South East England.
Is South Downs National Park Trust a public or private company?
South Downs National Park Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was South Downs National Park Trust founded?
South Downs National Park Trust was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is South Downs National Park Trust based?
South Downs National Park Trust is headquartered in Midhurst, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does South Downs National Park Trust make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships, visitor Giving, gifts in Wills, grants from Foundations, event Revenue and biodiversity Credits.
Who are South Downs National Park Trust's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Wildlife Trusts, RSPB and National Trust (UK). Emerging players are Plantlife and CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England). Direct peers are Yorkshire Dales National Park Trust, Lake District Foundation, Cairngorms Nature, Peak District National Park Foundation and Exmoor National Park Trust.
Does South Downs National Park Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for South Downs National Park Trust.
What industry is South Downs National Park Trust in?
South Downs National Park Trust's product category is Nature Conservation Charity Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAM, Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAC, Land Trusts & Protected Areas. Its NAICS code is 813312.