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Project

Changing Chalk partnership

Public footpath signpost at Devil's Dyke, West Sussex
Public footpath at Devil's Dyke | © National Trust Images/Gary Cosham

Led by the National Trust, Changing Chalk is a landscape-scale partnership connecting nature, people and heritage on and around the South Downs.

Changing Chalk: a lasting legacy 

The Changing Chalk programme is now drawing to a close after four years of partnership working across the eastern South Downs. 

Together, partners, communities and volunteers have restored rare chalk grassland, connected downs and towns, and brought the rich histories of the landscape to life. While the programme is finishing, its legacy continues through the people, places and partnerships shaped by this work. 

To celebrate this journey, we have created a series of short films sharing voices and stories from across the Downs.

We invite you to watch the films and discover more about the lasting difference Changing Chalk has made for nature, people and heritage. 

 

You can also explore our end-of-project report, which brings together key achievements, learning and impact from across the partnership. [link to report] 

 

From Shoreham to Eastbourne, the ambition  was to create a more sustainable future for the Downs’ rare  and fragile chalk grassland, its unique cultural heritage and its richly-diverse urban fringe.

By connecting nature, people and heritage across this 458 sqkm area of the eastern South Downs, we helped to restore and protect this internationally-significant landscape.

Four years, ten partners, and 18 projects created multiple connections across the urban fringes and rural areas of the Downs, restoring and reconnecting the fragmented areas of chalk grassland.

Supported by a £2.23m National Lottery Heritage Fund grant and funding from People's Postcode Lottery and The Linbury Trust, Changing Chalk has helped to:

  • support nature’s recovery and climate resilience in the area
  • create opportunities for work, learning and leisure time for people in the area
  • provided engaging activities for people to enjoy, enhancing health and wellbeing.
Panoramic view at sunset in August from Devil's Dyke, South Downs, West Sussex
Enjoy a walk along the South Downs | © National Trust Images / John Miller

The themes around connecting nature, people and heritage have never felt more important or relevant.

A quote by Richard HendersonNational Trust Chair of the Project Board

Why is Changing Chalk important?

The Changing Chalk project area - much of which falls within the South Downs National Park - is home to rare and protected wildlife and plantlife, and important archaeological sites. But this area is also special because of the rare chalk grassland which has its origins 6,000 years ago when people first began clearing forests to settle and farm. 

The chalk grassland supports such a rich and diverse range of plants and insects that it’s sometimes referred to as ‘Europe’s tropical rainforest’.  Around 40 species of flowering plant can be found in just one square metre of chalk grassland, with many of these species growing nowhere else, including rare orchids and wildflowers. It is also home to rare insects including the Wart-biter Bush-cricket.

However, over the past 80 years unimproved chalk grassland has suffered badly from loss and fragmentation. Since the national call to "plough up" in the 1940s, there has been a decline in traditional ways of looking after the landscape. It now makes up just 4% of the land in the South Downs National Park and many of the sites that remain are small and isolated, with the chalk grassland wildlife threatened by encroaching scrub as well as climate change. 

A scene showing the prominent hill formations and iron-age hill fort on the chalk grassland South Downs at Devils Dyke near Brighton, stretching away into the distance with fields in the valley below.
The remains of an Iron Age hill fort at Devils Dyke near Brighton | © National Trust Images/Laurence Perry

Our urban communities 

Neighbouring the Downs is one of the most densely-populated coastal regions of northern Europe. Around 750,00 people live here, in multi-cultural towns like bustling Brighton and Hove, charming Lewes, and historic Eastbourne.

But the Changing Chalk project area has some of the most economically-deprived wards in the UK, with high unemployment, and poor physical and mental health. The stresses of today’s world have created new challenges and the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of access to nature and open space for people’s well-being.

The Sussex Downs and towns have a rich shared heritage but both are facing unprecedented threats.

  • More than 80% of its rare chalk grassland has been lost.
  • 12% of its archaeological sites are under threat.
  • 55% of its schools have pupils living in socio-economic deprivation.
Devil's Dyke, West Sussex, winter view
Devil's Dyke winter view | © National Trust Images/Gary Cosham

Working at landscape scale, with a wide range of partners and communities, is our best chance to better understand this ever-changing landscape and find solutions to conserve heritage for future generations.

A quote by Jane CecilNational Trust General Manager, South Downs portfolio 

Themes and Projects

Changing Chalk is delivering 18 inter-connected projects and activities to address these challenges which, together, unite nature, people and heritage and create a more sustainable future for the Downs and their towns. In addition, a series of apprenticeships and training opportunities are being created, giving young people across Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne and Lewes the chance to learn the skills needed by rangers and archaeologists. The projects can be summarised under three themes:

Restoring chalkland biodiversity
Over 800ha of land will be newly managed to benefit nature, including 90ha of golf course returned to species-rich chalk downland and 40 sites returned to active grazing. Five historic dew ponds will be restored, and the long-term future of one of Britain’s most endangered insects, the Wart-biter Bush-cricket, will be secured. We will also be researching new, more sustainable methods of managing the fragile chalk grassland. Discover more about these projects
Connecting downs and towns
Therapeutic activities and new ‘Things to do and see’ maps will help local communities access green space and the Downs will come to the towns with new chalk grassland planting on 12 city sites. A ‘Find your Future’ programme will support young people gain vital skills, whilst 2,250 primary pupils will have the chance to experience Farm School. More than 40 volunteer Dog Ambassadors will raise awareness of why we need grazing on the Downs and encourage dog owners to help us in our mission.Learn more about these projects
Hearts and histories of the Downs
Residents of Eastbourne have been invited to join a community excavation project to uncover the archaeological history under their feet. Annual celebrations for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month will explore the cultural links of this community to the Downs, while seasonal programmes, micro bursaries and writing workshops will engage people of colour and the wider public to respond creatively to their experience and connection with the Downs.Read more about these projects

Community Grants Scheme

Changing Chalk is managing a Community Grants Scheme on behalf of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and have awarded grants totalling almost £150,000. You can read more about these successful projects here 

 

 

 

 

An image of a cyclist riding on a garvel track across a grass hill with the sun behind them
Enjoy a challenging ride on Ditchling Beacon, East Sussex | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Changing Chalk Films

 

Across the South Downs, people are connecting with nature and heritage in powerful and personal ways.
With the help of our project partners and communities we have created three short films to highlight the work of the Changing Chalk project.

This short series of Changing Chalk films brings together voices from across the area,  volunteers, communities and creatives – exploring how care, wellbeing and creativity shape people’s connections with the Downs.

Watch the films here

Events and activities

It's easy to get involved with all the events and activities run by the Changing Chalk partners.

Find an event
Take a look at some great events to enjoy, ranging from days out and digs to archaeology talks and nature walks. All showcase the amazing chalk grasslands of the eastern South Downs.Discover events

Volunteering with Changing Chalk

As the four-year Changing Chalk programme draws to a close, partners, communities and funders are celebrating its lasting impact across the South Downs – from restoring rare chalk grassland and improving access, to supporting wellbeing, skills, creativity and shared heritage. 

Discover your perfect volunteering role
Our volunteers have played a vital role in the success of the project and now continue their work across the South Downs with our partnership organisations.Find volunteering opportunities

News and Blogs

November 2025

To Exist Here: From Collections to Connections – by Pauline Rutter

 

 

To exist here and now in this space, this embodied nature writing, environmental care and community nourishing space; to call in others to walk the paths across the South Downs; to turn out of yourself what is there on the inside of your heart, for those who look like you; to offer a fossil’s history or pressed herbarium chalk grassland story for them to plant in their rolling landscapes of imagination, is to live in the fullness of being.

Read the full blog here 

A photo of a view on the South Downs
South Downs by Pauline Rutter | © Pauline Rutter

Our Funders

Changing Chalk is supported by a £2.23m Heritage Fund grant, made possible thanks to National Lottery players; by players of People's Postcode Lottery; and The Linbury Trust. Thank you.

Many thanks also, to our generous supporters who wish to remain anonymous.

 

Changing Chalk funder logos
Thank you to our funders for making Changing Chalk possible. | © Changing Chalk funder logos
Mesolithic flint found by the Skell Valley Project volunteers

Volunteering with Changing Chalk

Find out how you can get involved with the many Changing Chalk projects and help create a sustainable future for the eastern South Downs.

Discover volunteering opportunities

Changing Chalk partner organisations

Brighton and Hove City Council

Brighton and Hove City Council is the local authority of the city of Brighton and Hove.

Visit website 

Brighton and Hove Food Partnership

We’re a non-profit organisation helping people learn to cook, eat a healthy diet, grow their own food and waste less food.

Visit website 

Buglife

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

Visit website 

Lewes and Eastbourne Council

The council with responsibility for the Lewes district and borough of Eastbourne

Visit website 

Natural England

Natural England is the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England. They help to protect and restore our natural world.

Visit website 

Railway Land Wildlife Trust

The Railway Land Wildlife Trust exists to inspire environmental sustainability by bringing nature to the heart of Lewes.

Visit website 

South Downs National Park Authority

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.

Visit website 

Sussex Wildlife Trust

We champion wildlife and natural places everywhere in Sussex and inspire people to take action for nature.

Visit website 

The Living Coast Biosphere

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.

Visit website 

Royal Botanic Gardens

Discover the world of science behind our botanical collections, with over 50,000 living plants to be found across our UNESCO World Heritage site.

Visit website 

Historic England

The public body that looks after England's historic environment.

Visit website 

Writing our Legacy

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.

Visit website 

Get involved and discover the Downs on your doorstep

Discover the Downs on Your Doorstep - Changing Chalk leaflet and map 

Download your Changing Chalk leaflet 'Discover the Downs on your Doorstep' with its specially-commissioned illustrative map with artwork by Elaine Gill and start to explore this wonderful area.

Volunteering with Changing Chalk 

Find out how you can get involved with the many Changing Chalk projects and help create a sustainable future for the eastern South Downs.

Volunteers working on the white horse at Litlington

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.

Published:
09 August 2023
Wolstonbury Hill photographed in low sunlight highlighting the prehistoric enclosures and the post medieval flint quarries and part of the large chalk quarry (left).

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