Volunteers Week
June 1, 2016
The work our volunteers do is invaluable and varied; they could be clearing invasive scrub one weekend and improving access to a medieval drovers road the next.
Our latest project, the Secrets of the High Woods has seen extraordinary dedication from volunteers who have been undertaking a huge range of research. They’ve collected oral histories, researched archives and carried out fieldwork to reveal archaeology hidden beneath the woodland in the South Downs.
We asked two of our volunteers what they’ve enjoyed and learnt from the Secrets of the High Woods project:
“The project has enabled me to immerse myself in the history and use of the landscape on my doorstep, so easily taken for granted, and to fully understand the need to conserve it for future generations to enjoy.
“For me the “Secrets of the High Woods” project was an eye-opener. A landscape that I regularly walked has now become not just a living history but a living present as well. It is important to enjoy it as well as protect it.” – John
“Beneath the ancient woods of West Sussex lies a forgotten landscape. It is littered with traces of past communities who lived and worked on the South Downs. The LIDAR has allowed me to see beneath the trees and reveal a landscape rich in human stories.” – Mark
This summer we’ll be sharing the story of people who have lived and worked in the South Downs through our Secrets of the High Woods touring exhibition. Full listings of the exhibition and activity days here.
