The South Downs National Park Heathlands Reunited Project
The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) is leading a project to connect and expand the existing heathland left within the national park.
More information about this project can be found on the Heathlands Reunited pages on the SDNPA website.
The SDNPA is gathering stories about the heathlands of the South Downs National Park as part of the cultural heritage strand of the project. A map showing the heathlands within the national park can be viewed here.
How to get involved
The project is looking for people to interview about their (or their friends or ancestors’) lives on the heaths.
It is also looking for volunteers to research archives to unearth interesting stories, photos and facts about the South Downs National Park’s heathlands.
Do you have a heathland story you would like told? Do you know any local people who would be willing to tell their stories and be interviewed by its volunteers?
Would you like to volunteer to dig into the archives to discover more about these precious areas of our country and heritage?
The aim is to find at least 100 stories from the archives and from interviews. These stories will then be used to inspire an artist to create works on 7 of the heathlands: Black Down, Woolbeding, Iping and Stedham, Graffham, Lavington, Wiggonholt and Shortheath.
Mary Saunders has been employed by SDNPA as Cultural Heritage Community Projects and Volunteer Co-ordinator for the Heathlands Reunited (HeRe) project. If you would like to volunteer or have any suggestions on the best people to talk to for interesting information about these heaths or, indeed, have any interesting stories to tell yourself, please contact Mary at [email protected]
Please note that Mary is already aware of the Storrington & District Museum as a potential source of information and stories but if you are involved with the museum I am sure she would like to hear from you.