Creating opportunities for young people and children to get out and about across the South Downs is at the core of many of the projects that we fund annually. We incorporate elements of the cultural heritage of the Downs with an appreciation of biodiversity and natural landscape to provide 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.
Having successfully worked with schools in Sussex, the South Downs for All project turned its attention to Hampshire in 2025, working with eight partner schools in the county. Six of these schools are in the Portsmouth/ Gosport area, and draw children in from some of the most socially and economically disadvantaged areas in the country.
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.
Explorers of the South Downs
This is a project financed from a recent legacy. We have donated £10k to the South Downs National Park Authority who arranged an experienced company called So Sussex to run about 30 fieldtrips for children during the summer term of 2023. Again the focus was on schools with children less likely to know the Downs. We plan to extend the project into future years, including both Hampshire and Sussex schools.
No Child Left Behind
No Child Left Behind is a Youth Hostels Association scheme to enable children who don’t normally visit to the countryside to stay overnight in a youth hostel. We donated £5k to enable a school to enjoy this experience on the South Downs.
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.
Read More about the “Songs of the South Downs” project.
Read More about the “Secret Shore” Project.
