More than 6,000 people have given their views on the proposed South Downs national park - and most are all for it.
Countryside watchdogs believe the final number responding to a consultation could be close to 8,000.
Jane Cecil, of the Countryside Agency's national park designation team, said: "We expected a big response but this exceeded expectations.
"The majority are very positive about the need for a national park and what they think a national park could do."
A similar consultation in the New Forest, which was proposed as a park at the same time as the Downs, drew about 3,500 responses.
The three-month consultation, which ended last week, was the main test of opinion before a public inquiry which will probably be needed before the Downs become a park.
The agency will draw up a draft designation order based on its results before consulting again, with local authorities.
A full designation order is likely to be drawn up before the end of the year but it could be 2006 before the park is operating.
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