Countryside Agency

Wednesday, 2 February 2000

CHRIS SMITH LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVE - TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE 
TO GET INVOLVED IN THEIR LOCAL LIVING HISTORY

A new national grant scheme to help people care for their local 
landscape, landmarks and traditions kicks off today with the help of 
the Heritage Lottery Fund and Nationwide Building Society. Following 
the success of Countryside Agency pilot projects, ranging from lime 
kilns to local histories, wildlife sites to walls and way marks, some
#8 million of Heritage Lottery Fund money will open up the Local 
Heritage Initiative more widely to the public.

Launching the new initiative at Coram's Fields in London today, 
Culture Secretary Chris Smith said:

"This initiative recognises that the long term future of our local 
heritage lies in the hands of those who value it at local level. Even
the smallest grant can make a vital difference to our local 
communities and, by extending the Local Heritage Initiative today, 
even more communities will have the opportunity to benefit. By taking
ownership of our heritage we can ensure its continued enjoyment for 
future generations."

Dr Eric Anderson, chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: 

"We have a great heritage of great buildings, great museums and 
galleries and wonderful countryside but our national heritage 
consists of more than those. It is also made up of thousands of local
places, customs and well-loved landmarks in every corner of the 
country. The Local Heritage Initiative will help people to conserve, 
to understand and celebrate what is important in every local place."

Nationwide, the world's largest building society, is contributing 
more than #1 million over the first five years of the scheme. 
Communications director, Jeremy del Strother, said: 

"Nationwide has its own deep-rooted heritage and tradition of working
with and helping the communities from which it has grown over the 
last 150 years. We recognise how important it is to keep local 
history and traditions alive for current and future generations. 
There are many valuable lessons we can learn from our past to help us
make the best of our future."

Ewen Cameron, chairman of the Countryside Agency, said: 

"The success of our initial pilot projects, which worked well in 
practice, means more money is now available to encourage more 
communities to work together. The enthusiasm and efforts of local 
people are paying off.

"We intend to help more than 3,000 projects nationwide during the 
next ten years. There will be plenty of opportunity for people to get
together to plan future projects to enhance the spirit and 
distinctive character of the place where they live. Initial 
applications for grants must be in by mid-May but future applications
can be made each autumn when local communities are ready to undertake
the work."

The Countryside Agency initiative is designed to provide 
cost-effective grants to encourage communities to take practical 
action to care for their local heritage. The three main components to
the Local Heritage Initiative are for communities to assess their 
local heritage, carry out community-led action, and gain support for 
local organisations to ensure the sustainability of heritage action. 

Local people can find out how to get the most out of the Local 
Heritage Initiative by calling the LHI Information Line on 01226 
719019. Full details of the grant scheme and application details, 
together with advice from successful projects during this ten-year 
initiative, are available on our website at www.lhi.org.uk

-ends-

Note to editors: Examples of successful pilot projects attached.

For further information or interviews contact:

A beta video containing interviews and film of some of the pilot 
projects is available from Nationwide. Photographs of the launch are 
available from the Countryside Agency.

The Local Heritage Initiative will run for ten years. The Heritage 
Lottery Fund is providing #7,960,000 for the period 1999-2002 and 
have agreed in principle, to continue funding the initiative for the
following seven years. The Countryside Agency administers the Local 
Heritage Initiative in England on behalf of the Heritage Lottery Fund
who will make all funding decisions using pre-agreed criteria. The 
initiative covers people in England and there are plans to develop 
similar schemes for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Countryside Agency is responsible for advising government and 
taking action on issues relating to the social, economic and 
environmental well-being of the English countryside.

The Heritage Lottery Fund provides financial support for the 
protection and enhancement of our heritage, of local, regional or 
national importance, to improve the quality of life of communties 
throughout the United Kingdom. So far, 3,170 grants have been 
awarded, with a combined value of #1.4 billion.

Nationwide, the world's largest building society, has around eight 
million members and it is estimated around one in three households in
the UK have a financial relationship with them. The Society 
celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1998. Nationwide has a strong 
history of helping community projects and is firmly committed to 
supporting the communities from which it has grown. Through 
sponsorship, fundraising and other activities, Nationwide has 
supported hundreds of events and initiatives across the country and 
last year it gave over #2.7 million to both local and national 
charities.

LOCAL HERITAGE INITIATIVE CASE STUDIES

Woodlands Community School, Harefield, Southampton
Students and teachers based in the urban fringe of Southampton have 
investigated the heritage of the former Harefield Estate on which 
their school and homes are built. Working with the local history 
society, activities included site survey, oral history recording, 
mapping data and producing a booklet to share what they found. Future
ideas include annotated then and now, signs at key sites and setting
up a Heritage Explorers Club at school. 
Contact: John Smith, Southampton City Council, on 01703 833910

Maulds Meaburn, Cumbria
Faced with the conflicting interests of children playing, sheep 
grazing, SSSI and nature conservation, car drivers and adjacent 
residents, villagers got together to commission expert advice and 
develop and action plan to save their village green for future 
generations.
Contact: Susannah England, Countryside Agency, on 01768 865 752

Tow Law, Co Durham
19th century beehive coking ovens had fallen into disrepair before 
the town council initiated a partnership of local people, Groundwork 
and expert advisers to restore this part of their industrial heritage
and make it more accessible to local people.
Contact: Lorraine Weeks on 01434 674 672

Examples of potential activities which could be eligible for LHI 
grants:

Natural heritage aspect 
- restoring local streams for wildlife and access
- cleaning up reed beds

Built heritage features 
- repairing and restoring small local features such as horse troughs 
and milestones
- replacing features with locally distinctive work such as local 
cobblestones

Archaeological heritage 
- surveying local features and providing interpretation
- mapping out local heritage trails or researching local place names

Industrial heritage 
- making industrial heritage sites safe for public access
- providing new uses for old features such as drove roads

Customs and traditions 
- creating local commemorations of important people, places, events 
and activities
- recording local history, traditions and customs
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 Alex Hunt           Council for British Archaeology
 Bowes Morrell House, 111 Walmgate, York YO1 9WA, UK
 Tel: +44 (0)1904 671417     Fax: +44 (0)1904 671384
         http://www.britarch.ac.uk
=====================================================

David Dawson
Museums New Technology Adviser
MGC, 16 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AA
email: [log in to unmask] tel: +44 (0)171 233 4200
Visit us on-line at www.museums.gov.uk



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