Heritage Connections

Heritage Connections project helped community and youth groups in Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough understand and participate in the North York Moors National Park between 2005 and 2010.

The project was part of the Authority’s commitment to promoting understanding and making sure that as many people as possible can discover what the National Park has to offer.

Heritage Connections was developed as a response to visitor surveys and other research which showed that community and youth audiences from neighbouring urban areas were under-represented in the visitor profile. The project also responded to requests from the communities themselves who were keen to get involved in the National Park. It involved re-creating and strengthening links which have existed between Teesside and the North York Moors for over one hundered years.

A range of activities and opportunities were provided to encourage the groups to get involved and included:

• Outdoor activity days and creative workshops
• Conservation volunteering and the chance to ‘adopt’ part of the National Park
• Guided walks and training in navigation and route planning
• Visits to working farms and to meet people who care for the countryside

The project also trained ‘community champions’ to inspire members of their community to get involved with the National Park e.g. by leading groups on guided walks.

The five year project was funded by the Heritage Lottery and also involved a partnership between Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough Borough Councils, the National Trust and the National Park Authority. It also involved working closely with Middlesbrough Youth Service and Redcar and Cleveland’s Countryside Team.

The Heritage Connections project ended in 2010. If you would like tofind out more about the project please contact us.