THE sixth anniversary of the South Downs National Park was celebrated with a special event in Midhurst, organised by the Hampshire branch of the Ramblers in conjunction with staff at the National Park Centre.

As part of the South Downs Vintage Walking Festival, the national park was given the use of a splendid Vintage South Downs Bus which picked up rail travellers from London, Portsmouth and elsewhere and ferried them to the South Downs National Park Centre at Midhurst for tea and coffee and a short presentation by staff member Allison Thorpe.

The bus then took 54 ramblers and members of the public on to Petworth for a seven-mile walk back to Midhurst. The walkers enjoyed one of the most beautiful parts of the national park with fine views to the north and south.

On arriving back at Midhurst people were given afternoon tea, which was followed by a short talk by Sue Webber, the organiser of the Vintage Walking Festival.

The day ended with the return bus journey to Petersfield.

Owen Plunkett, the event organiser, expressed his satisfaction saying: “We campaigned for many, many years to create the South Downs National Park, so we are delighted to see the fruits of our efforts. We have arranged an event to mark each anniversary and have always had a good response, but this year has been the best. Apart from the walk, people really enjoyed seeing the Park Centre, which has so tastefully been converted from what was the original Midhurst Grammar school.”

Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, vice-president of the Ramblers and trustee of the Campaign for National Parks, was unable to attend but blogged: “Six years after the South Downs National Park came into being (and five years after the authority was established) it is still wonderful to reflect on our great joint achievement of securing protection for this magnificent expanse of countryside.

“We must campaign unceasingly to protect its borders from creeping encroachment, and to ensure that the unique and splendid qualities of the downs are unimpaired.

“They give freedom and fresh air to thousands of people and, being so close to population centres, should lead the way in enabling every child to experience the outdoors. What better place can there be in which to learn about our countryside and the environment?”