Grape expectations for the South Downs

HUNDREDS of jobs and millions of pounds of investment could be created by exploiting the potential of the South Downs National Park as a winemaking hub, a report suggests.

The national park, which stretches from Winchester in Hampshire to Beachy Head in East Sussex, has been home to winemakers since Roman times – and currently has 51 vineyards and 11 wineries.

The study identifies 39,700 hectares of agricultural land in the national park as being suitable for viticulture.

If only one-tenth of this was to be used, it would enable the production of 22million bottles of wine, create 800 full-time jobs and contribute £127m to the UK economy. Nick Heasman, countryside and policy manager for the national park authority which commissioned the study, said: “Climate change is having an impact with warmer summers predicted in the future.

“We know farmers and land managers may be looking at grape-growing opportunities on their land.”