IT has been more than 60 years in the making, but environmental groups across East Hampshire celebrated last week when Secretary of State Hilary Benn confirmed the new South Downs National Park.

Mr Benn, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, was in Ditchling, East Sussex, last Thursday to sign the confirmation order that officially creates the new South Downs National Park from March 31, 2010, and defines its boundary.

For full story, see this week's Bordon Herald.