Changing Chalk partnership

June 2025

Stepping into the Downs Walk, a blog post by Josie Jeffery

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month (GRTHM) is celebrated in June every year. It aims to tackle prejudice, amplify the voices, and change the narrative of Gypsies Roma and Travellers in wider society, through celebration, education and raising awareness and appreciation of the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. 

In May we embarked on an unforgettable journey through the South Downs, on a 'Stopping Places' walk guided by Gypsy Historian Janet Keet-Black. You can read a heartfelt account of the walk in this blog by our Volunteering and Community  Manager, Josie. 

Read it here 

January 2024

Meet Changing Chalk's apprentice rangers

One of the Changing Chalk project's aims is to provide new work and training opportunities for young people. As well as our countryside traineeship, we've created four new apprentice roles so far - in Archaeology, Countryside and Ranger Skills, and Community and Participation. You can read the new blog from Kitty our Community and Particpation apprentice here   from our Countryside Ranger apprentices Molly and Rebecca here and from Kayleigh our Archaeology apprentice here 

December 2024

Changing Chalk: From Vision to Fruition.

In April 2022, after five years of careful planning and together with a new team, 13 partner organisations, and the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we embarked on a pioneering four-year journey that is the Changing Chalk project. Bringing together 21 different projects, we set out to connect nature, people and heritage and inspire our local communities to ensure the South Downs will be enjoyed for thousands more years to come. 

Read the Changing Chalk: From Vision to Fruition Article here 

May 2023

Find Your Future: How is the Countryside Skills Programme benefiting young people?

There are a lot of towns on the edge of the Downs but, despite this beautiful landscape being on the doorstep, many people living here feel the Downs are a remote place, unconnected to their daily lives. One the main aims of Changing Chalk is to build links that help make people feel closer to the countryside. Thanks to our project, Find Your Future, young people are feeling a stronger connection to the chalk grasslands while learning new skills for work and life. Read More

November 2024

Local groups receive over £90,000 with Changing Chalk Community Grants

The Changing Chalk Community Grants Scheme launched in March 2023 and thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Trust, grants totalling £90,000 have been awarded in the first  three rounds of applications. These  groups have now got the green light to put their plans into practice and we can't wait to see what they achieve.

Read about the  successful project bids here. 

August 2023

Learn about the archaeological clues in the landscape

The National Trust looks after thousands of archaeological sites and landscapes, but just because we manage them doesn’t mean we yet know everything about them. Thanks to new technologies and opportunities like the one provided through Changing Chalk we can continue to learn, understand and better care for sites on a larger scale.

As part of Changing Chalk’s Downs from Above project, Historic England has used aerial imagery to map hundreds of archaeological sites dating from the Neolithic to the Second World War across 192 square kilometres of the South Downs on the outskirts of Brighton.

The resulting new report reveals the rich history of the area and the ways in which the activities of our ancestors have shaped the landscape whether by ancient burial, farming, leisure, military activity, and industry. It highlights sites with a tangible link to the past, connecting people to their area and fostering a sense of place.

You can read all about the project and how to get involved here

June 2023

Cultural Heritage

Cultural Heritage

Meet Prissy. This magnificent iron horse is part of the Changing Chalk Cultural Heritage project. We aim for Prissy to stand proud on the South Downs to reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Downs. For hundreds of years, the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities have lived and worked here, working the land or working at the funfair that used to run at Devil’s Dyke in Victorian times.

As part of Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month, Prissy’s creator, Jake Bowers brought the sculpture and his travelling forge to Devil’s Dyke to give people the opportunity to forge part of her mane. We also were joined by cultural auditor, Kate Richardson and Janet Keet-Black, a member of the community, Gypsy historian and author of ‘Gypsies of Britain’. They explained more about the intimate links between the community and the Downs and how to search the records to trace where they travelled over the years. And to join Prissy the Gypsy Cob sculpture, came some real-life Gypsy Cobs, Sapphire and Cherokee to meet the people at the event.

We’re finding the perfect spot for Prissy now, but we already think she is looking magnificent.

May 2023

Creating Connections - the latest news from our Chalk Life Rangers

Southwick Hill was long regarded as one of the best chalk grassland sites on the Brighton Downs with just the right level of grazing to allow the flora and fauna that makes this habitat so special to thrive. However, the last ten years has seen an increase in issues such as cut fences and worrying of livestock meaning the tenant farmer is no longer able to graze livestock on the majority of the hill. As a result, the herb-rich biodiverse chalk grassland is being rapidly lost to encroaching scrub. Pathways are closing over and many in the local community report feeling that they are losing sight of the Downs and the hill that they have long known and loved. Read More.

May 2023

A typical summer's day volunteering with Changing Chalk

Changing Chalk volunteers play a vital role in protecting the chalk grassland and heritage of the South Downs.  When it comes to volunteering with us, every day is different. Many of our Changing Chalk projects are supported by volunteers who cover tasks ranging from conservation, to archaeology to scientific surveying. Here is what two of our teams did this May on our regular Changing Chalk volunteer days.

April 2023

Archaeology Apprentice Blog

Kayleigh is our first archaeology apprentice at Changing Chalk. She has  been working with the National Trust as the Archaeological Apprentice of the Changing Chalk partneship since January 2023. 

Read her story here.