Illegal and harmful campsites continue to appear in South Downs National Park

Trevor Beattie, chief executive of South Downs National Park Authority, said, while he encourages legal camping, visitors must be certain they have permission from the landowner.

"Our rangers were out at the weekend and every Monday morning I get a report back and, since we have started coming out of lockdown, there have been many examples like [those pictured].

"These are really sensitive and delicate landscapes."

Taking to social media, Mr Beattie, showed affected areas in Southwick Hill and Midhurst Common.

Mr Beattie added: "The first thing to say is I wouldn't want anyone to get the idea I am not a fan of camping — I welcome it — but it should always be with the permission of the landowner. It must always be in accordance with the countryside code.

"If we do that that will have a big impact on the ecology of the national park. I want to see an increase in camping, getting the trill of a night out under the stars but it must always be with permission.

There has also been an upsurge in the number of people camping in the South Downs National Park, Mr Beattie said, with hopes of making more legal camping sites available.

"We have been working with the landowners to make more regulated sites available. I don't think the public that are doing it know that it is illegal. They see it from influencers who don't point out what they are doing.

"I'm not sure people appreciated the damage that they are doing."

The South Downs National Park is home to a total of 1,024 designated nature conservation sites – including a total of 85 Sites of Special Scientific Interest with some of the highest levels of wildlife protection in the world.