11/04/2026
Hello everyone,
We’re currently exploring funding opportunities to support and expand the education programme at the Watercress Line Heritage Railway, and would really value any advice or recommendations.
Our education and outreach programme engages with over 6,000 participants each year through guided school visits, sessions for scouting and guiding groups, and wider community outreach. A key part of our offer focuses on immersive World War Two learning, where students experience travel behind historic steam locomotives and take part in hands-on activities exploring life on the Home Front—such as rationing, “make do and mend,” fire guard training, and discovering real wartime railway stories.
To build on this, we are hoping to develop a replica timber-framed WWII air raid shelter at our Ropley station site. This would form part of our learning experience, allowing school groups to step inside and better understand what it was like to take shelter during air raids in a rural setting during the 1940s. The structure would be built by our team and include interpretation using real stories from railway workers along the line.
We’re particularly keen to hear from anyone who knows of local grant funding schemes, organisations, or funding bodies that might be interested in supporting heritage education projects like this, or who can point us towards potential funding sources.
Any suggestions, contacts, or advice would be greatly appreciated—thank you!. any suggestions to education@watercressline.co.uk
