Released On 12th Feb 2025
A New Chapter Begins at Ham Hill
Uncovering Ham Hill’s Past for Its Future: A New Chapter Begins
A new visitor centre and other improvements are on the way for an iconic Somerset landmark as a major project at Somerset Council’s Ham Hill Country Park starts soon.
The ‘Uncovering Ham Hill’s past for its future’ project has been made possible thanks to a £2.153M grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and further financial support totalling £111,200 from the Wolfson Foundation, Leonardo, and with the support of the Friends of Ham Hill, Garfield Weston, Bernard Sunley Foundation and the Bannister Trust.
The first works on site are expected to start next month, connecting water and power to the site of a brand-new purpose-built visitor centre next to the Lime Kiln Car Park. The aim is to start the visitor centre build itself at the end of March, with the goal to complete this autumn – though as with any construction project the schedule can be affected by unforeseen factors, such as the weather.
The new visitor centre will feature a café and changing places facilities and host permanent exhibitions and interactive displays, to make Ham Hill’s stories accessible to all. The project also aims to support local schools and community groups with educational resources.
Thanks to the generous Heritage Fund grant, Somerset Council has welcomed two new members to our team to help deliver the project: An Assistant Ranger and Engagement Ranger have joined our two permanent rangers Paul and James and our incredible group of volunteers. Together, their work will help conserve and celebrate the rich heritage and nature of Ham Hill including:
- Heritage Conservation: Protecting and showcasing the wealth of archaeology at Ham Hill, including its status as one of Europe's largest Iron Age hillforts.
- Biodiversity Enhancement: Improving habitat management to support a diverse range of species and ecosystems.
- Community Engagement: Offering educational programmes and interactive exhibits to engage visitors with the history, geology, wildlife and natural beauty of Ham Hill.
- Visitor Experience: Developing new ways to help people explore Ham Hill with an accessible visitor centre, a café and permanent and temporary themed exhibitions.
Councillor Grahame Oakes, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Public Health, Environment and Climate Change said:
“This is an exciting time for the Ham Hill community. We can’t wait for visitors to see and experience the positive impact of these efforts. We are committed to making Ham Hill an accessible place where people can connect with nature and history in meaningful ways, ensuring this much-loved historical beauty spot is preserved for future generations and continues to be a wildlife haven for nature to thrive. This project will also serve as a model for heritage and conservation efforts across Somerset, inspiring similar initiatives throughout the county. As part of the council's plan for a greener, more sustainable Somerset, we aim to promote environmental stewardship and sustainable tourism. We are extremely grateful to the Heritage Fund and other generous benefactors for their amazing support—without them, this project would have just been a dream.”
Get involved
If you would like to get involved at Ham Hill through volunteering or find out more about the activities on offer for your group or organisation please contact countryside@somerset.gov.uk
Keep up to date with the project’s progress, follow Ham Hill on social media or check out the Visit South Somerset website.
For more information, please contact the Press Office on 01823 355020 or email pressoffice@somerset.gov.uk.
About Ham Hill
Ham Hill is a 173-hectare stunning wildlife haven centered around an Iron Age hillfort in South Somerset about four miles west of Yeovil. It offers fantastic opportunities for scenic walks, running, playing and wildlife watching, and the far-reaching views across Somerset are spectacular. With over 300,000 visitors a year and growing, the Uncovering Ham Hill’s past for its future project will make an enormous difference in preserving and improving this beloved heritage site for everyone to enjoy for generations to come. Find out more, including events at Ham Hill at the Visit South Somerset website.
About the National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for worthy causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places, and communities. heritagefund.org.uk Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund
Uncovering Ham Hill’s past for its future | The National Lottery Heritage Fund
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