South Downs national park opens – in pictures

South Downs, Telscombe Photograph: Slawek Staszczuk / PPL/South Downs National Park Authority

From the tower of St Peter’s Church, Petersfield onto the map of the New South Downs national park, March 30, 2011 Photograph: CHRIS PEARSALL/PR

Always an inspiration, the South Downs was the subject of a water colour by local artist Charles Gregory in the late 19th century Photograph: Corbis

Between Seaford and Eastbourne the white chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters mark the southern boundary Photograph: David Goddard/Getty Images

Sheep at sunset where the South Downs meets Beachy Head above Eastbourne Photograph: Haydn West/Rex Features

Bucolic views across the downs in Sussex Photograph: Paul Harris/Getty images

Cheesefoot Head in Hampshire Photograph: Adam Burton/Rex Features

Some of the downs is home to Exmoor ponies Photograph: Frank Baron

A wooden signpost marks the route of the South Downs Way across a hill above the village of South Harting in West Sussex Photograph: Paul Seheult/Corbis

The vivid yellow of rapeseed crops colours the view Photograph: David C. Tomlinson/Getty Images

Rarer species of plant inhabit the downs such as these common spotted orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) Photograph: Oxford Scientific/Getty Images

Cows among the poppies Photograph: Gerry Penny/EPA/Corbis

Wild herds of fallow deer roam parts of the downs Photograph: David Cole /Rex Features

Wild garlic Photograph: Duncan McNicol/Getty Images

Jew's ear fungus (Auricularia auricula-judae) Photograph: George McCarthy/Corbis

Much of the land is used for farming Photograph: Jonathan Syer/Rex Features

Sunset Photograph: Monsoon/Corbis

Beech trees on top of the iron age hill fort of Chanctonbury Ring, planted by Charles Goring in 1760, were damaged by the 1987 hurricane and replanted Photograph: Peter Greenhalf/Corbis

South downs national park map Photograph: South Downs National Park Authority