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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 5h

Entries to this year's South Downs photo competition close on Tuesday 31 October.

There's a top prize of £250 for the winning entry along with special youth and wildlife categories.

Full details 👉www.southdowns.gov.uk/care-for/photo-comp

📷 Ron De'Ath
📍 Queen Elizabeth Country Park

A lone tree with beautiful autumnal colours on the leaves of orange and yellow

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 1d

In the spring, Stanmer Woods is alive with bluebells and wild garlic adorning the paths.

However, once #SpookySeason rolls in, it becomes something darker and foreboding.

Credit to photographer Finn Curry for capturing the woodland at its most eerie and haunted.

A misty woodland giving off a very haunted feeling

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 2d

There's no business like sloe business.

Despite the charms of its fruit, in folklore blackthorn has a sinister reputation, connected with tales of doom and witchcraft, with witches supposedly using wands made of blackthorn.

#SouthDowns

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 3d

It's not #SpookySeason without a spider or two.

📷 R.Kiernan
🕷️ Garden spider (Araneus diadematus)

#SouthDowns

The orange Araneus diadematus aka garden spider, sitting in a leaf

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 4d

Who's excited about leafy autumn trails?

With over 3,300km of footpaths, bridleways and byways, there's loads of great opportunities to make the most of the Autumn.

Check out some of our suggested walking routes 👉 www.southdowns.gov.uk/get-active/south-downs-walks

📷 Sam Moore
📍 Friston Forest

A footpath through an autumnal woodland with trees of gold and yellow leaves

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 5d

Fly agaric.

Stunning to look at but poisonous.

It can be spotted on lowland heath around birch and pine, where it is thought to have a mycorrhizal relationship - sharing nutrients between tree roots and the fungi itself.

📷 Olivia French

#SouthDowns #AutumnVibes

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 6d

'Tis the season...🎃⠀
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📷 Emily Summers-Mileman⠀
📍 Rogate ⠀

#Autumn #AutumnVibes

A field of pumpkins stretching back a long distance

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 7d

🍂 Autumnal bliss 🍂

Stay up to date with the latest news from the South Downs National Park by signing-up to our newsletter.

Hear about upcoming events, ideas for days out and competitions 👉 www.southdowns.gov.uk/join-the-new...

📷 Andrew Tullett
📍 Arundel

An autumnal scene of woodland with yellowing-brown leaves

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 8d

Did someone say 'Spooky Season'? 😱

📷 Jamie Fielding Photography
📍 Blackdown

#SouthDowns #SpookySeason

An eerie looking footpath shrouded in mist, fallen leaves and leafless trees

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 9d

Is that September done with, really?

As we turn to October, it's time to break out the heavy sweaters (if you haven't already), get the hot chocolate in and fully embrace the season.

📷 Michael Harris
📍 Petworth Park

Two bucks and a doe graze on grassland on a dewy morning

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 9d

*JOB ALERT*

Do you have a background in wildlife conservation, countryside management and working with the public and partners?

We're currently advertising for a new ranger to join our National Park team!

Closing date is 12 October!

Learn more 👉 bit.ly/4nPHgBD

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 10d

Visiting the coast?

Don't be caught out by the tide.

Always check the tide tables before venturing out 👉 www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast-and-sea/tide-tables

📷 Paula Wilks

Sunrise over a coastline with the tide out, revealing rock pools and a wooden groyne

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 11d

One of the best things about Autumn? Catching a cloud inversion at first light.

📷 Lloyd Lane
📍 Bury Hill

A cloud inversion over a valley with the sun rising above a hill in the distance.

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 12d

A glorious Ouse Valley sunrise to kick-off the weekend.

📷 Larry Van Howe

A sunrise over a misty valley with a river flowing through

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 13d

The season's upon us!

Dark Skies season that is!

Steve Geliot's shot of the mist rising below a starry sky at Castle Hill Nature Reserve is a reminder of the tranquil stillness the night can bring.

#EmbraceTheDarkness #SouthDowns

Mist rises on a nature reserve below a starry night sky

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 14d

Get your entries in before 31 October 👉 www.southdowns.gov.uk/three-cheers...

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 14d

There's a little over a month to go to get your entries into the 2025/26 South Downs Photo Competition.

Our judges are looking for beautiful images not only of well-known icons but also unexpected aspects of the Park, not typically seen.

📷 Ian Brierley
📍 Wolstonbury Hill

A sunken lane with fallen brown leaves on the path and yellow-brownish leaves on the trees above

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 15d

Who are you calling 'Autumn obsessed'?
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📷 Jamie Fielding
📍 Halnaker Holloway, Chichester⠀

A tree tunnel of fallen brown leaves and yellowing leaves on the trees

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 16d

Sometimes all you need is a walk in the woods to clear your head.
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With more woodland than any other National Park in England or Wales, there are plenty of tree-covered trails to escape to in the South Downs.

📷 Sam Moore
📍 Alice Holt

#SouthDowns #AutumnVibes

An autumnal woodland of brown leaves and dappled light

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 16d

Made in the UK, they’re £5 each or 2 for £8 (incl. p&p).

Buy online 👉 www.southdowns.gov.uk/national-par... or at the South Downs Visitor Centre, Midhurst.

Questions? Call 01730 814810

South Downs Shop - South Downs National Park

The gift shop at the South Downs Centre provides our visitors with the opportunity to take a reminder of the National Park home with them, as well as equip visitors for their future adventures. We…

www.southdowns.gov.uk

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 16d

Turn boring zips into zippity doo dah ones! 🌼🦋

South Downs Zip Buddies are here – choose from a Pyramidal Orchid or Adonis Blue butterfly. Easy to attach, they brighten up jackets, rucksacks, camera cases – and even replace broken zip pullers.

Three South Downs 'Zip Buddy's, a branded or custom-designed accessory that clips onto a zipper pull, serving as a promotional item. One features a blue butterfly, another an orchid.

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 17d

Heading to the coast to enjoy the cliffs? Remember to keep your visit safe and sound.⠀
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Cliff falls happen completely at random. Enjoy the views, but please do so well away from the edge and base of the cliffs.⠀
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📷 Tom Hoppe

#SevenSisters #BeCliffAware

A view of the iconic white cliffs of Seven Sisters taken on a misty and cloudy day

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 18d

The theme is 'Three Cheers for 15 Years' in honour of the South Downs celebrating 10 years of official National Park status.

Submit your entry before Friday 31 October 👉 www.southdowns.gov.uk/care-for/pho...

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 18d

A perfectly seasoned shot of Petworth Park taken by Carrie Davidson.

Have your own snap of the South Downs? There's still time to enter this year's Photo Competition.

An autumnal looking scene of low light, cloudy skies, and spider webs visible on the grass in the morning dew

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South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 19d

St. Roche's hill in West Sussex rises to 206 metres and commands views across the coastal plain to the south and the Weald to the north.
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The hill is famous for the Iron-Age hillfort on its summit called the Trundle (Old English: Tryndel, meaning "circle").

An aerial shot of an old hill fort - you can clearly see the markings of the fort and the wider landscape

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