South Downs National Park invests in the future of building conservation
April 30, 2025
The National Park Authority is helping to support the next generation of building conservationists.
Young people from across Sussex took part in a Heritage Skills Taster Day at Weald & Downland Living Museum, gaining hands-on experience in traditional building crafts vital to the future of conservation.
Funded by the South Downs National Park Authority, the Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust and The Swire Charitable Trust, the day was designed to inspire the next generation of builders to explore exciting career opportunities in building conservation.
The 2025 event built on the success of last year’s pilot project, where 27 students were introduced to heritage skills, with 11 awarded bursaries for further training. This year, the day grew to 39 students from Brighton Metropolitan College, Chichester College and Crawley College.
The students got the opportunity to ‘taste’ four different building crafts including timber repairs, brick making, hurdle making and wattle and daub.
Helen Reeve, CEO of the Sussex Heritage Trust, said: “The Authority’s commitment to championing this pilot scheme has been instrumental in giving young people the chance to gain practical skills relevant to the historic environment of our National Park.”
- The 2025 Sussex Heritage Trust Awards will be announced at a prestigious ceremony held at AMEX Stadium, Brighton, on Tuesday, 2 July 2025 where they will receive a hand-crafted slate plaque presented by the Trust’s President, The Rt Hon Lord Egremont. Guests gathered for the launch of the awards at the iconic Saltdean Lido, the only Grade II listed lido in the country. Now in their 27th year, the Awards – sponsored by Thakeham – celebrate the best of conservation, restoration and good design of newly built projects across Sussex.