Staffordshire Wildlife Trust announces new cultural heritage project

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust announces new cultural heritage project

An exciting new chapter in cultural heritage begins as Trent Valley Past and Present—an inspiring two-year project—takes root in the heart of the Staffordshire Trent Valley.

The project launched in October 2025 with £250,000 in support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It aims to connect local communities, groups and individuals with their own rich heritage through a variety of engaging initiatives.  The project area follows the River Trent and its major tributaries through Staffordshire and includes the towns and villages that it passes through. 

Local communities will be able to explore the thousand-year-long relationship between people and the landscapes of the River Trent and its tributaries. There will be a host of ways to get involved including hands-on archaeology activities, historical research, and the sharing of local folklore, mythology, stories and history.  

Dr Mark Knight, Senior Cultural Heritage Officer, said: "We’re really excited to get this project started. It’s the perfect opportunity for people to discover new ways to understand, interpret, and celebrate their shared past.

“Through this project we can collectively reflect on how heritage is protected locally. If we want to leave heritage in a better condition than we found it, it is vital that we act now.”

To find out more about the project, including how to get involved, visit: www.thetrentvalley.org.uk/tvpp