Society's Unheralded Champions - Heritage

A NATIONAL LOTTERY REPORT 2020

Heritage

GREEN SPACES BECAME SANCTUARIES OF SANITY IN 2020

Nearly three quarters of people say parks and heritage sites gave them a much-needed boost during lockdowns and travel restrictions.

Public parks and heritage sites have never been so highly valued by the individuals and communities who live around them.

Across the UK, a grateful public are reporting a sharp rise in their sense of pride at the benefits that local leisure and heritage sites bring to their area.

With lockdowns, travel restrictions and more people holidaying in the UK, green spaces, public gardens and historic sites have played a pivotal role in helping millions cope with the pressures and the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Often they have proved to be one of the few places where people could relax and reset, helping to unlock the mental tension caused by long periods of being housebound during lockdown.

Now, a study of 6,000 people, commissioned by The National Lottery, shows three quarters of those surveyed, (72%), credit visiting outdoor spaces with having a positive effect on their mental wellbeing.

Another 62% said it made them value these areas more than before.

One in two also reported visiting parks, woodlands and outdoor spaces helped them cope, with the same proportion reporting that they were thankful for them as oases to reflect and gather their thoughts during lockdown.

This deeper connection with the local environment also spilled over to a greater appreciation of the value of heritage sites, with 49% saying that they make them even more proud of their local area and just 13% disagreeing. Almost 43% admitted heritage sites made them feel more relaxed and less anxious in difficult times.

1 in 2

55%

6 in 10

Half

3 in 4

4 in 10

Almost 1 in 2 (47%) people say that since the national lockdown they have used outdoor spaces / parks as somewhere to reflect and gather their thoughts

6 in 10 (62%) said that lockdown in 2020 made them value parks / woodlands / outdoor spaces more

Almost 3 in 4 (72%) adults said that visiting outdoor spaces during lockdown had a positive impact on their mental wellbeing

Over half (55%) of people said that being able to visit parks / woodlands / outdoor spaces helped them cope mentally during the national lockdown

Half (49%) say that heritage sites in the UK makes them feel prouder of their local area / region

4 in 10 (39%) said that they didn’t realise how much they would miss being able to visit heritage sites until they were closed during the national lockdown

Over 4 in 10 (43%) say that heritage sites in the UK makes them feel more relaxed and less anxious in difficult times

Many public parks have faced a severe reduction in funding from local authorities. However, a study in the journal Nature, found spending 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing.i Sir Tony Robinson, the comedian, actor, author and Time Team presenter, said: “These insights show what a deep affinity we all have for our treasured open spaces, historic places and our heritage. Understanding our history and spending time in well-kept historical spaces brings us closer to where we live and can both excite and relax us. Many of us have spent valuable hours enjoying the culture and heritage of these great isles over the past months and these findings show what a positive impact it can have on many people’s happiness and wellbeing, especially so in such challenging times.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3

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“It is a tribute to key project workers and volunteers that they have kept heritage accessible as much as possible this year during the pandemic using National Lottery funding.”

Since the first draw took place on November 19th, 1994, more than £41 billion has been raised for good causes in the areas of the arts, sport, heritage and community.

Ros Kerslake CBE, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “The National Lottery is playing a crucial role in supporting heritage sites and projects during the crisis, but it’s the important work of the thousands of amazing individuals, some of whom we are celebrating and honouring today, that keep these places going and make our visits memorable.

“I would like to thank each and every one of them for their passion, commitment and the profound and positive impact they are having on the sector.

None of this would have been possible of course without National Lottery players, who raise around £30 million each week for good causes.”

STILL STANDING

James Rodliff, Operations Manager, Stonehenge – English Heritage

Even prehistoric monuments built 5,000 years ago couldn’t escape the paralyzing effects of the pandemic.

Having joined a year and a half ago, operations manager James Rodliff was looking forward to his first normal summer running the day-to-day operations of one of the best-known world heritage sites in the world – Stonehenge.

Responsible for the Neolithic site’s staff, volunteers and education programme, he was forced to close earlier this year following government restrictions on large gatherings.

“Covid-19 has obviously had a huge impact on the entire sector of tourism and heritage,” said James.

“For us, it was obviously sad to close the gates throughout this year. At first we thought it was going to be quite a short-term measure, but then came that dawning realisation that this isn’t going to be a couple of weeks. How were we going to open back up? That was quite difficult.”

While many within the organisation went on furlough to help support the charity and continue doing what it could do with a limited income, James and a few others remained at Stonehenge to help look after the site – along with security – and plan for a safe, Covid-secure reopening. Doing everything from figuring out future digital strategies to cleaning toilets, opening other heritage sites like Old Sarum to testing fire alarms, the Salisburybased manager saw light in the logistical challenges thrown at him: “In the circumstances, I thought everyone reacted pretty well – in operations we live for the extraordinary and like to get stuck into a crisis, and this has certainly been a big one! The challenge throughout has been significant – there wasn’t really any time at any point to really step back and take stock of it, you were just going from one thing to the next.

“Getting the doors open and the staff back in again was quite magical. Seeing those who are truly connected to Stonehenge and the landscape, for

them to be able to walk round and see it again was really quite touching.

“To be able to open up to the public safely during the summer for people – many of whom hadn’t left their house for a long time or hadn’t seen loved ones – using our site as a special place to come and meet outdoors was lovely as well. For many, it meant the world to them.”

Having grown up around the ancient settlements and standing stones of Cornwall, James studied archaeology at university and knew early on that he wanted to tell the stories of the past and work in heritage. He notes that The National Lottery’s support for not only Stonehenge, but the whole industry, is “huge”, adding that: “It certainly plays a major factor in our entire education offer and has allowed us to bring that back online for young people who have had their learning impacted.”

Stonehenge is one of the many wonderful causes that benefit from the £30m raised each week by players of The National Lottery , and James is one of a handful of workers around the UK formally recognised by it for his outstanding work, with staff photos set to be beamed on the Wiltshire stones later this year.

“I’m surprised and exceptionally humbled by it,” he reflects. “There are so many people who have worked hard across our industry, and across the site at Stonehenge to make this year a success. We have an incredibly close team and I feel like I work in a family unit.

“Our staff came back with such enthusiasm and a genuine want to continue sharing the site’s incredible story. They continue to be adaptable and flexible through all weather, all the obstacles that get thrown at us. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do any of what we do.”