South Downs National Park Authority Case Study – 16 KLOE 5 Supporting Communities The South Downs National Park Authority has supported local communities on the ground through SDNPA staff support and funding from our Sustainable Communities Fund. Milland Community Shop The community in and around Milland felt that not having their own local shop had taken the heart out of the community. Support from the Sustainable Communities Fund enabled the creation of the Milland Community Shop. The now bustling shop has become a wonderful outlet for local products, thus supporting local business. In addition, its small café has become an important local meeting place. Having a local shop also reduces the need to travel and is more accessible to those with difficulty travelling. A trailer for the Lynchmere Society The Lynchmere Society, made up of community members, works together over most weekends to manage three large wooded heath areas. It is an example of how a community can be self-sustaining in woodfuel. However, once the timber has been cut it needs to be moved so it is nearer the road, where it is cut up into logs which are then distributed around the community in time for the winter. Without the trailer this task would have been much harder to achieve. Local woodfuel feasibility study with the YMCA We provided support to a local YMCA-run conference centre, Dunford House, for a feasibility study to look into the use of a woodfuel boiler system using as much timber from their land as is sustainable. The YMCA have now decided to install a wood pellet boiler system and have adopted a new woodland management plan which will enable them to be more self sufficient for heat while supporting wildlife habitat management. Without our assistance these three projects would have struggled to get off the ground.

Project dates: Lynchmere Society applied for a contribution for their timber trailer June 2011

and had possession of it by September 2011. Milland Community Shop applied for a contribution towards their community shop in April 2011 and the shop was launched on the 1 November 2011. Dunford House YMCA applied for a contribution for their feasibility study April 2011 and had their feasibility study finished by August 2011 and an additional Woodland Management Plan completed by September 2011.

SDNPA input: The SDNPA Area team provided initial advice on what was needed and supported the Lynchmere Society and the YMCA to prepare applications to the Sustainable Communities Fund. The community of Milland approached the SDNPA seeking help and the Area Team provided advice and support to ensure that the application to the Sustainable Communities Fund was consistent with National Park purposes and Duty.

Funding: The Milland Community Shop total cost was £165,000 The Lynchmere Society total cost for timber trailer and ensuring it was secure was £123,400. The YMCA and Dunford House total cost for a more sustainable heating feasibility study was £3,500. We also gave staff time to help with all three of these projects, and are still involved with all of them to some degree.

SCF or Major Partnerships funded:

Milland Community shop £20,000. Lynchmere trailer £9962. Dunford House feasibility study £1000.

Outcomes: Milland Community Shop

• Built and launched the community shop. • Employed a full time manager. • Has become the community hub for village news and small meetings. • Supports local and visitor shoppers. • Supports 80 local businesses.

The Lynchmere Society

• Purchased the timber trailer. • Have used the trailer for the second year to assist residents to keep warm during the winter.

The YMCA at Dunford House

• Have decided to go for a wood pellet boiler system. • Have created a woodland management plan. • Have already started on their new woodland management plan.

All three projects demonstrate outcomes which support the purposes and duty of the National Park.

Core Documents: CS 16 (1) Milland Community Shop

CS 16 (2) YMCA Dunford House SCF CS 16 (3) The Lynchmere Society Expression of Interest