Changing Chalk partnership
Led by the National Trust, Changing Chalk was a landscape-scale partnership connecting nature, people and heritage on and around the eastern South Downs.
What was Changing Chalk?
Changing Chalk was a four-year landscape-scale partnership programme from 2022 to 2026 that brought together nature, people and heritage across the eastern South Downs, from Shoreham to Eastbourne.
Led by the National Trust, 13 partner organisations worked together to deliver 21 interconnected projects and a Community Grants Scheme that restored rare chalk grassland, improved access to nature, uncovered hidden heritage and celebrated the stories that make this landscape unique.
Working with communities, volunteers, farmers, landowners and local organisations, Changing Chalk helped restore downland habitats, improve opportunities for people to experience the South Downs and strengthen connections between people and place.
The programme's legacy lives on through the habitats restored, partnerships formed, knowledge shared and the people inspired to explore, enjoy and care for the landscape on their doorstep.
Changing Chalk was made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, People's Postcode Lottery, The Linbury Trust and other generous supporters.
The Changing Chalk programme has delivered real benefits for nature and for people. We hope its legacy will continue for years to come, with communities continuing to enjoy, care for and feel connected to the South Downs.
Over four years, Changing Chalk delivered lasting benefits for nature, people and heritage across the eastern South Downs through partnership working, community engagement and landscape-scale conservation.
Explore the From Vision to Legacy: End of Project Report, which brings together the partnership's achievements, learning and impact, including key statistics, case studies and reflections from across the programme.
Themes and Projects
Changing Chalk brought together 21 interconnected projects across three themes, each helping to restore habitats, connect communities with nature, uncover hidden heritage and create opportunities for people to experience the South Downs in new ways.
- Restoring chalkland biodiversity
- Working across the eastern South Downs, Changing Chalk restored and enhanced rare chalk grassland, improved habitats for wildlife and trialled new approaches to support landscape-scale nature recovery. By working with farmers, landowners, volunteers and conservation partners, the programme has helped create healthier, more resilient habitats for the future.Find out more about these projects here
- Connecting downs and towns
- Changing Chalk helped more people discover, enjoy and connect with the South Downs by improving access, removing barriers and creating welcoming opportunities to experience nature and heritage. Through wellbeing projects, volunteering, community activities, improved access and new trails, the programme strengthened connections between local communities and the landscape on their doorstep.Find out more about these projects here
- Hearts and histories of the Downs
- Changing Chalk celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the South Downs by uncovering hidden histories, supporting archaeological discoveries and amplifying voices that have not always been represented in the area's heritage. Through creative projects, community engagement and storytelling, the programme helped reveal a broader, more inclusive story of the Downs and the people connected to them.Find out more about these projects here
Community Grants Scheme
The Community Grants Scheme was a key part of the Changing Chalk programme, supporting grassroots community-led projects that connected people with the South Downs through nature, heritage and creativity.
Guided by National Lottery Heritage Fund principles and a Community Grants advisory panel, the scheme awarded £147,000 to 32 local projects, reaching more than 6,000 people across the programme area. Grants enabled a wide range of organisations and community groups to deliver activities from wildlife conservation and creative projects, to community archaeology, improved access, guided walks and equipment for volunteers to look after their local greenspaces.
The scheme helped broaden participation by supporting under-represented groups in the landscape and funding projects which tackled barriers to access. Many projects created lasting community benefits beyond the lifetime of their grant, leaving stronger local partnerships, increased confidence and new opportunities for people to connect with the South Downs.
Further information, project examples and key learning from the Community Grants Scheme can be found in the From Vision to Legacy: End of Project Report
Explore the Legacy
The stories, learning and achievements of Changing Chalk are captured through a collection of films, reports, case studies and digital resources.
Explore:
The eastern South Downs continues to be cared for by the organisations, communities and volunteers who know and love it. The stories, resources and partnerships created through Changing Chalk continue to inspire people to explore, enjoy and care for this special landscape. Discover more through our partner organisations, digital trails and other resources that build on the programme's legacy.
Thank you and acknowledgements
Changing Chalk would not have been possible without the commitment of our partners, volunteers, farmers and landowners, local communities, funders and supporters. Together, the partnership helped create a lasting legacy for nature, heritage and people across the eastern South Downs.
Volunteers
Hundreds of volunteers played a vital role in the success of Changing Chalk. Their enthusiasm, knowledge and commitment helped restore habitats, support communities, uncover heritage and create new opportunities for people to experience the South Downs.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered as part of the programme.
If you'd like to support the ongoing care of the South Downs, visit our partner organisations listed in the section below to explore current volunteering opportunities.
Funders
Changing Chalk was supported by a £2.23 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible thanks to National Lottery players. The programme was also supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery, The Linbury Trust and other generous supporters.
Partners
Changing Chalk was delivered by 13 partner organisations, led by the National Trust.
Changing Chalk partner organisations
Brighton and Hove City Council is the local authority of the city of Brighton and Hove.
We’re a non-profit organisation helping people learn to cook, eat a healthy diet, grow their own food and waste less food.
Buglife is the only organisation in Europe devoted to the conservation of all invertebrates. We’re actively working to save our rarest little animals, everything from bees to beetles, worms to woodlice and jumping spiders to jellyfish
The council with responsibility for the Lewes district and borough of Eastbourne
Natural England is the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England. They help to protect and restore our natural world.
The Railway Land Wildlife Trust exists to inspire environmental sustainability by bringing nature to the heart of Lewes.
The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) is responsible for keeping the South Downs a special place. The SDNPA is also the planning authority for the National Park.
We champion wildlife and natural places everywhere in Sussex and inspire people to take action for nature.
The Living Coast is a UNESCO World Biosphere Region. It embraces a wonderfully biodiverse stretch of the chalky South Downs and Sussex coast between the River Adur at Shoreham-by-Sea and the River Ouse at Newhaven.
Discover the world of science behind our botanical collections, with over 50,000 living plants to be found across our UNESCO World Heritage site.
The public body that looks after England's historic environment.
Writing Our Legacy CIC is an arts and heritage organisation that enables Black, Asian and ethnically diverse/BPOC* people to tell their story through writing and the creative arts.
Discover more
Discover the Downs on Your Doorstep
Download your Changing Chalk Map 'Discover the Downs on your Doorstep' and start to explore this wonderful area.
Discover the Downs from Above
Discover the Downs from Above and see how human activity has shaped the history and heritage of the Downs with a new report and interactive archaeology tool.
