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Heritage is about everything that makes us who we are; this means it weaves an incredibly rich, varied and powerful tapestry. Sadly though, not all of its amazing colours and strands get included in every weaving. This can leave people whose story threads are missing feeling invisible, and the general tapestry is dimmer, even misleading for the gaps – like trying to read a story with several chapters missing. Earlier this year we attended a powerful workshop run by a project in Sheffield who are leading the way in working with communities to address these issues. We’re delighted to introduce you to them and their work here.

From a dazzling cloak to the portrait of a Curling Captain there is more to our sporting heritage than you might think. Sport is a huge part of our culture, but its place in our heritage has sometimes been overlooked. Earlier this year though we came across a brilliant network working to change that. As they lead us in celebrating National Sporting Heritage Day, their Founding Director is here to introduce their work and some amazing sporting heritage collections you can visit.

Where can you see beneath the soil, visit an Anglo-Saxon village, unveil hidden treasure, or explore a flying boat lifted from the water? Well, this summer, all these are on offer as part of the CBA’s Festival of Archaeology. One of their amazing team shares their story as they introduce us to this fantastic summer festival.

Family. We can’t explore Routes-Networks-Connections without looking at this! One family history group that participate in our festival is particularly special – helping people overcome barriers to explore their links to Travelling people, whose stories can be hard to trace, but have contributed much to our histories. To celebrate Gypsy, Roma & Traveller History Month we invited them to share their work, and some stories with us - including talented craftspeople and the origins of Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach!

Throughout history people have travelled the globe spreading ideas and sharing their talents. We’re celebrating their stories this year as part of our Routes-Networks-Connections theme. So of course we had to chat to the Migration Museum, whose touring exhibition has just won a coveted Museums+Heritage Show award. Here they share some of the extraordinary stories highlighted in that exhibition.

“We demand the Wayfarer’s Dole!” intriguing words that link us to our ancestors across the centuries. Discover their reward and the different meaning of old and new wayfaring in this beautiful blog from Dawn at the British Pilgrimage Trust. Our landscape may have changed, often dramatically, over time, but this just makes the survival of, and our continued journeys along, ancient paths all the more special.

For over a century thousands of extraordinary women across the country have been meeting up and causing a stir. Not just stirring the ingredients for a cake to share with friends or sell on a stall, but stirring up conversations that lead to long term change. As they announce exciting plans for their AGM we invited the brilliant WI (Women's Institute) to tell us their story for Women's History Month.

'The cherries’ only fault / the crowds that gather / when they bloom'*. The sight of blossom in Spring has inspired poets throughout the centuries and celebrating the season is an important benchmark in Japan's calendar. Now the National Trust are building on the success of their #BlossomWatch campaign to bring that joy and inspiration into ours. Launching today with a new poem from Simon Armitage there's a whole feast of opportunities to get involved and be inspired - will you plant a tree, write a poem, or simply look up and smell the blooms?

'Creativity' - just the word makes half of us smile and the others dash for the hills! If you're one of the smilers then you'll love this... if not, stay with us, you might be surprised! Because here's the thing with the January Challenge, it's just that, a challenge, but one you can do in 5 mins and never show anyone, or you could take all day and shout your ideas to the world. It's about making a long winter month that little bit brighter by prompting you to think and do something a bit different each day. Here's Jemima from The Challenge team at 64 Million Artists to tell us more...

Q - Who protects ancient bones, tiny books and wild rubber dresses, with the help of parasitic wasps (eek!) whilst trying to avoid creating a monkey on the way? A - Conservators. Nope, nothing to do with building glass houses, though they may help protect them! Conservators are the doctors and nurses of our heritage, using their encyclopaedic knowledge to keep our treasures shining for future generations. Here to introduce us to their work is Sara Crofts, Chief Executive of Icon, the Institute of Conservation.

These once nearly forgotten churches may be small and humble but their stories are anything but! From extraordinary women to secret princes, brave sailors and legendary kings, their past companions are definitely worth noting. Clare Kirk from Friends of Friendless Churches is here to tell us more...

From grand gatehouses to surprisingly splendid stables - The Landmark Trust collection is definitely not the standard offer of holiday home options! They restore historic sites to create fabulous self-catering stays and regularly open for Heritage Open Days to delight and intrigue visitors. As applications open for one of their charitable offers we thought it was about time we we learnt a little more, so here's Fiona Keyte, to tempt us with some of her favourites!

Ok, so I don’t have a garden, but during lockdown, I’ve never been so appreciative of everyone else’s gardens, or missed so much the beautiful parks near work where I used to walk on my lunchbreaks. Well, as it’s National Gardening Week, there’s extra excuse to stop and admire our neighbours’ efforts (whilst maintaining social distancing). To highlight and give a shout out to all those who help create, nurture (and in many cases, rescue!)  these glorious green spaces I asked our good friends at The Gardens Trust, to tell us about some of their favourites. Over to you TGT team…