Friends of the South Downs consider that one of the best investments that we can make is to encourage children to know and love the Downs. Since 2019 we have been running projects to encourage the interest of children in the Downs in the hope that they will get to know the landscape and culture and look after it when they grow up.
We incorporate the cultural heritage of the Downs with an appreciation of the biodiversity and charming natural landscape to create exciting education opportunities.
Our most recent education-based projects have involved local experts in the field to create tailored workshops, visits and outdoor trips to maximise opportunities and provide access to the Downs where it may otherwise not be possible.
Thank you to our partners and volunteers who have worked on these projects to provide opportunities for young people and children to explore the South Downs, instilling a love for our local landscape for generations to come.
Take a look at some photos from the projects we have funded recently:
South Downs for All Sussex and South Downs for All Hampshire
South Downs for All is a project bringing together eight South Down schools and the Friends of the South Downs (FSD) to enable more children to enjoy the South Downs and learn about the heritage of this wonderful landscape. Thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and funding from FSD, we can offer a varied programme of workshops and field trips, free of charge, to hundreds of children, who might never get the opportunity to visit the South Downs and learn about their cultural heritage. The project involved eight schools in Sussex with higher than average numbers of the less well-off and ethnic minorities: groups seen less in the natural environment. We contributed £10,000 of the cost. Find out more at the website: https://southdownsforall.org.uk/
We are continuing in 2024 to 2025 a second South Downs for All project with eight Hampshire schools with the same objective as the first project. We are contributing £15,520 of the budget, the remainder coming from the lottery fund.
By taking history and natural history workshops into these schools, we were able to give the children a sense of the South Downs National Park: its heritage, flora and fauna. These workshops were run by project manager, Chris Hare, and naturalist and author Michael Blencowe.
“It was a great day out with the children. Lots of the children mentioned this trip as the highlight of the year when we discussed our favourite things in Year 2. Although it is right on our doorstep the majority of the children had never been walking in the South Downs. Great experience for all children.” Testimony on the project Teacher – Harbour Community Primary School
Explorers of the South Downs
has run annually since 2023 to provide days out learning about the Downs. We have financed about 50 fieldtrips to South Downs locations for 2,000 children in 2025. Again the focus was on schools with children less likely to know the Downs. Schools benefitting included Priory School Lewes and Manor Green School Crawley. Our contribution was £22,000 in 2025.
“The trip made me think about how important it is for children to be outside getting fresh air rain or shine, walk, feel discomfort but overcome it (like getting sweaty, tired or having to carry their bags). This is what really develops resilience! If it were up to me, we would be getting children out walking on the downs as much as possible as part of the school curriculum.” Testimony from Teacher – Carden Primary School
No Child Left Behind
No child left behind is a Youth Hostels Association scheme to provide overnight stays in the Downs for children who would not otherwise have the opportunity. We are donating £12,000 for three trips in 2025 at Truleigh Hill and South Downs youth hostels for five schools including about 115 children. Discover the value of the project on this video: https://youtu.be/rvXZcLcb59c?si=kXUSVtYyziwJ8uNB
Educational Projects
We are keen to ensure the cultural heritage of the South Downs is not forgotten and have so far run two projects called “Songs of the South Downs” and “Secret Shore“, both of which were sponsored by Heritage Lottery Fund.
Our first project for children was South Downs Generations, a two year project largely funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. FSD worked with four primary schools to encourage children to learn about South Downs history and culture. The project finished in 2021, but its legacy is a wonderful website https://southdownsgenerations.org.uk/
Read More about the “Songs of the South Downs” project.
Read More about the “Secret Shore” Project.
