Launched in 2020 Beelines works with landowners across the South Downs to create habitat for pollinators, and new wildlife corridors on verges and field margins linking pollen to enrich areas.

The aim is to create bigger, better and more connected areas of the South Downs ecosystem, which will have multiple benefits for people and wildlife. The initial campaign raised over £80,000 which the James Tuttiett Charitable Trust was delighted to contribute to. This has supported eight initial projects, which included grass roots groups, charities and farmers working at scale. The South Downs Trust has worked with Plantlife to develop implementation and management plans, with projects taking place across the South Downs, restoring over 60 hectares of habitat and helping to increase connectivity in the corridors promoted by national charity Buglife.

Whilst the iconic chalk grassland of the South Downs attracts a multitude of bees and butterflies with its array of stunning wildflowers, with continuing deterioration in chalk grassland these key pollinating species are on the decline and in need of our support. Although originally extensive, chalk grassland now covers just 5,608ha of the National Park, 4% of its total area.

So, what’s caused the decline in Bees…… During World War II many of the chalk grassland sites in the South Downs were ploughed up and have remained under cultivation. More recent intensification of farming methods has contributed to the fragmentation of this important habitat making it harder for key pollinator species like bees and the Adonis blue butterfly to thrive and move around our countryside.

The story so far…

Beelines grants have funded the creation of new wildflower meadow, wildflower areas in schools, ‘bee banks’ as well as pollinator friendly boundaries and restoration of chalk grassland habitat across farmland. Many of the projects use a seed mix specially designed for the South Downs by Plantlife working with local seed provider, Bartholomews. There are already some fantastic results such as the transformation at Sompting Wildflower Meadow, near Worthing, Sussex Meadow and Lewes Cemetery

More information about Beelines can be found here: Bee Lines – South Downs National Park Authority