Lead organisation
Project description
Hambledon Vineyards is undertaking a bold, landscape-scale transformation within its 63-hectare South Downs National Park estate. This pioneering project will weave 600 metres of mixed hedgerows and 85 standard trees across the vineyard, creating living corridors that reconnect fragmented habitats and link mature hedges and ancient copses, showing what’s possible when nature and productive farmland work together in harmony.
The project tackles urgent challenges for wildlife and landscape resilience. The new hedgerows and trees will provide vital movement pathways for birds, mammals, and invertebrates, while also improving soil stability, enhancing drainage, and reducing erosion. These nature-based solutions strengthen both ecological networks and agricultural sustainability, demonstrating practical approaches that benefit wildlife, the land, and the people who manage it.
Beyond habitat creation, the project is designed to leave a lasting legacy. By integrating biodiversity into the working vineyard and creating visually and ecologically rich spaces, it encourages community engagement and raises awareness of the value of sustainable farming and connected landscapes.
By combining ambition, practical action, and a vision for long-term impact, the Hambledon Vineyards project is restoring wildlife, supporting resilient habitats, and leaving a lasting mark on the South Downs National Park.
Project location
Located within the South Downs National Park, this project lies in the heart of a nationally important landscape significantly comprised of chalkland.
Fit with the Big Chalk Programme
The Hambledon Vineyards project embodies Big Chalk’s vision of connected, resilient landscapes and regenerative land management. Situated within the South Downs National Park, it aligns directly with Hampshire’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy, delivering multiple environmental wins: enhancing water filtration, boosting carbon storage, and strengthening climate resilience—all while weaving habitats through a working vineyard.
This is strategic conservation in action—where local priorities meet national imperatives, and every metre of hedgerow and each new tree planted creates ripple effects for wildlife, soil, and water alike. By linking fragmented habitats and supporting thriving ecosystems, the project demonstrates the power of collaboration, ambition, and practical action to leave a lasting legacy for nature and people.
Wider social and environmental considerations
Hambledon Winery’s position at the forefront of England’s growing wine industry makes this project a bold example of how commercial farming and nature recovery can thrive together. By embedding wildlife-friendly practices into viticulture, Hambledon demonstrates that exceptional wine and exceptional biodiversity are not mutually exclusive. This approach has the potential to inspire other growers, galvanize local communities, and set a new benchmark for sustainable, nature-positive farming.
At the same time, the project delivers a suite of national environmental benefits: enhancing biodiversity, improving habitat connectivity, strengthening climate resilience, and reducing pollution. By combining these conservation wins with careful land management, it also safeguards the cultural and scenic value of the South Downs National Park, ensuring that natural beauty and ecological health flourish side by side.
The Big Chalk programme and Nature Recovery Fund is funded through the Protected Landscapes Partnership, supported by Defra.
Do you have a project that could strengthen the future of southern England’s iconic chalk and limestone landscapes?
The Big Chalk programme brings together a dynamic suite of partner-led projects, each unique in its focus, area, and partnerships but sharing a commitment to our collective vision.
If your project contributes to the Big Chalk mission, we invite you to register it as a Big Chalk Project. Registered projects gain access to networking, shared learning, and best practice alongside the Big Chalk brand, boosting your profile and connecting you to a powerful, growing network of partners.
Together, these projects form a united effort to secure the future of southern England’s chalk and limestone landscapes, making a lasting impact for nature and communities.