In March, we saw the end of the four year Changing Chalk project, a large partnership project across the South Downs, aiming to connect people, nature and heritage. Changing Chalk was led by the National Trust and made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and players of the National Lottery.
Looking back now, it feels incredible to reflect on just how much has been achieved over the last four years, and how many people have been part of that journey; across the wider project, over 50,000 people were directly engaged, and more than 650 hectares of chalk grassland are now better managed for nature.
Here at the Food Partnership, we piloted Sussex Grazed , which and has come such a long way in that time. What started as an effort to connect people with rare chalk grassland habitats, conservation grazing, and local food has grown into something much bigger. Along the way, it has supported farmers and producers, encouraged people to think differently about where their food comes from, and highlighted the important role grazing animals play in protecting vulnerable habitats across the South Downs.
Over the course of Sussex Grazed, more than £35,000 has been paid to local producers and businesses, with over 500 orders placed through our website. We have delivered 22 meat shares, where customers collect directly from us and have the chance to speak to the team about the project, local farms, and why appropriate grazing and habitat restoration matters. Some of the most valuable parts of the project have been those collection periods and the conversations with customers about how their shopping habits and understanding of local farming have changed because of engaging with Sussex Grazed.
Throughout the project, we have learnt how vital conservation grazing is to restoring the remaining chalk grasslands in the South Downs. Grazing animals manages scrub, creates space for wildflowers and supports a rich mix of wildlife. We shared this through our blogs such as Livestock on the Land and Grazing Relationships, which explores the role of animals in managing the landscape and the connections between farmers, graziers and conservationists. They are great for demonstrating why careful land management matters for the future of the Downs.
There have also been so many benefits to working as part of a landscape scale partnership project, and it has genuinely been a joy to collaborate with different organisations, farmers and volunteers along the way.
Some of the most enjoyable moments of the project have been the annual Saddlescombe Farm Open Days each summer. These events brought together families, farmers, conservationists and local residents to celebrate the landscape and learn more about the work taking place across the Downs. There is something really special about seeing people experience the landscape first hand, whether that is meeting grazing animals, speaking to farmer Roly Puzey or simply spending time outdoors and realising this important landscape is right on their doorstep.
It has also been incredibly exciting to bring Sussex Grazed to a national stage. Last summer, we had the opportunity to speak at Groundswell Agriculture Festival, and this year at the Oxford Real Farming Conference. Sharing the story and learnings of Sussex Grazed with people from across the country felt like a real milestone for the project, and something our team had once dreamed of.
One of the most rewarding parts of the project has been helping people connect with the South Downs landscape on their doorstep. We were delighted to have Roly Puzey and Saddlescombe Farm featured in Discover Brighton, encouraging people to venture out onto the Downs and experience the landscape for themselves. It is a publicly accessible landscape, open for everyone to enjoy, and something people can feel part of.
Another exciting moment for Sussex Grazed was being shortlisted for a Brighton & Hove Business Award for Best New Business. Going along to the awards evening and being recognised alongside so many inspiring local businesses felt incredibly special and reflected on the support the project has received from the local community. We were nominated for the award by our friends at We Are Tilt, who did such a brilliant job on the project’s branding, and we’re really grateful for their support.
As part of Changing Chalk, the Food Partnership has also been running Growing New Roots. After visiting one of the Sussex Grazed farms, the group joined us for a session exploring the role of grazing animals on chalk grassland. We then cooked and shared a meal together using Sussex Grazed meat, which felt like a really special collaboration and opportunity to tell the story of the landscape across our different projects.
Personally, I feel very grateful to the Changing Chalk project, particularly the National Trust’s Find Your Future programme. It allowed me the opportunity to complete my internship here at the Food Partnership, and it helped me discover a real passion for food systems, farming and conservation. I know I am not alone in that experience. The programme gave many young people the opportunity to reconnect with nature, heritage and meaningful work protecting our chalk grassland habitats.
Of course, none of the project’s success would have been possible without our volunteers. Their enthusiasm and willingness to get stuck in have been at the heart of Sussex Grazed from the very beginning. Whether welcoming customers during collection periods or helping behind the scenes with events and communications, volunteers have played a huge role in making the project what it is.
Through the project, we have engaged with a wide range of people and given them the opportunity to buy meat produced with conservation in mind. It has sparked conversations about eating less but better meat and reminded us that food is often a forgotten ingredient in nature recovery.
The South Downs chalk grassland is a special and important habitat and Changing Chalk has shown what is possible when people come together to protect it. Sussex Grazed has demonstrated that food, farming and conservation can work hand in hand.
Looking back, Sussex Grazed has grown into far more than a pilot project. It shows how local food can reconnect people with the landscape on their doorstep. The project has now been absorbed into our wider Land Use Plus project and I am excited to see what we can continue to achieve.
