National Lottery Grants for Heritage – £250,000 to £5million
This partnership project, led by the National Trust, is building a more sustainable future for the fragile chalk landscape and the people who live nearby in one of northern Europe’s most densely populated coastal areas.
Species and habitat recovery is being supported by:
- transforming 60 hectares of golf course back into species-rich chalk downland
- restoring five historic dew ponds
- protecting one of the UK’s most endangered insects, the Wart-biter Bush-cricket
- working with farmers and landowners to develop sustainable approaches to land management
Improved physical and intellectual access means more people can get out into nature, with wellbeing activities, countryside skills sessions for young people, archaeology projects and volunteering programmes providing opportunities to get involved.
Changing Chalk is also working with members of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities to reveal and celebrate their role in the history of the South Downs through co-created events and activities including:
- the creation of Prissy, a life-sized steel sculpture of a Gypsy cob horse forged by artist blacksmith Jake Bowers
- a deep-dive audit of records, photos and audio materials held in The Keep Archives
- a series of walks with Romany historian Janet Keet-Black
Sam Page, Programme Manager, Changing Chalk says: “Thanks to support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, there’s so much vital work going on. This ranges from supporting farmers to graze priority chalk grassland, to eco-therapy programmes on the Downs, to youth opportunities and working with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities to uncover deep-rooted but often-overlooked cultural connections with the Downs.”
Learn more about Changing Chalk or explore other landscape and nature projects we're supporting.
