The aim for us is to create a sustainable farming business that produces local and nutritionally dense food, whilst taking into account protection and recovery of the natural environment. The farm will operate in a way that acknowledges the interconnectivity between sustainable farming and the natural environment. Public and social health and interaction is key and is recognised. We understand that in addition to producing food, land can be used for environmental and ecological enhancement.

Lavington Estate has prepared this vision plan to present a narrative for the estate, as the estate recognises the important role it has to play in the South Downs national Park in nature recovery, climate change mitigation and healthy communities.

It is clear that the sustainability of rural estates is a key mechanism to achieve sustainability of the South Downs National Park landscape, a landscape that has evolved over thousands of years with cultural interaction.

The vision of Lavington Estate communicated through this plan illustrates this important relationship. It contains the overall position for the aspirations of Lavington Estate, which includes complex commercial, social and environmental activities.

This plan is about capturing opportunities and addressing threats for a thriving and sustainable rural estate in a 21st century National Park. This can only be done in the long term within a framework that makes sense economically, socially and environmentally.

The narrative of the estate is also critical so it can enable a forward-thinking relationship with the planning authority, partners, the community, tenants and stakeholders.

People are key to this landscape, especially passionate people who have a special link to the South Downs community and its environment.

Bianca and James Pitt