SOUTH Downs’ bosses have defended plans for new commercial partnerships following fears of the "Disneyfication” of the country’s most precious landscapes.

South Downs National Park Authority chief executive Trevor Beattie insisted the plans would preserve and not threaten the country’s newest national park.

The park boss was responding to concerns by The Open Spaces Society that the new National Parks Partnerships could lead to "crassly inappropriate sponsorships".

The conservation group also warned parks could end up competing and taking financial resources from smaller voluntary, campaigning and park societies.

The newly created National Parks Partnerships company was set up by the UK's 15 National Parks to to generate income through corporate partnerships.

Potential partners are being encouraged to help promote the parks as a way to keep fit and healthy, or pay for the restoration and repair of paths and cycle routes.

But critics of the move are wary about what new financial supporters might want in return.

Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of The Open Spaces Society, said: “Businesses will want their profits from the scheme through Disneyfication and crassly inappropriate sponsorships.

“Furthermore, the park authorities will be competing for money from the same post as the voluntary, campaigning, park societies such as our members the Dartmoor Preservation Association and Friends of the Lake District, who could suffer as a result.

“The English parks had a funding reprieve, thanks to the brilliant ‘Stop the Cuts’ action led by the Campaign for National Parks.

“This 'partnership' must not give governments an excuse further to reduce cash for national parks.

“If they become prey to commercial predators they will be at severe risk and their special qualities will be destroyed.”

Trevor Beattie, chief executive for the South Downs National Park Authority, said: “We are trying to attract new funding to do new things that will help us care for our precious countryside but commercial organisations have so much more to offer than just money – skills and experience which can help us in our purpose of protecting and enhancing our country’s iconic landscapes.

"We won’t take risks in this and have reassured the Open Spaces Society that we wouldn’t be part of any partnership that didn’t share these same goals.

“Looked at another way this is also an opportunity for national parks to influence businesses to care more about the environment that they, their staff and their customers benefit from.”