A three-year public engagement programme focussed on conservation work has been unveiled by English Heritage and civil engineering firm Sir Robert McAlpine.

Conservation on the Road aims to engage the public with conservation projects under way at historic sites across the country, with the new partnership conceived to entice people into pursuing careers in the heritage and construction industries.

“Conservation lies at the heart of everything we do at English Heritage. Caring for these special places takes skills and knowledge, and we want to do more to share the story of what we do with as many people as possible,” notes Rob Woodside, English Heritage’s estates director.

The initiative will see a van travelling all over the UK, starting at Marble Hill House in Twickenham.

Other upcoming excursions for the engagement team will be held at Dover Castle, Bishop’s Waltham Palace in Hampshire, Lincoln Medieval Bishop’s Palace, Bristol Temple Church and Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens in Northumberland.

“As a leading voice in the industry for the promotion of apprenticeships and skills training, especially in the heritage sector, Sir Robert McAlpine is proud to lend this initiative its support,” says Paul Heather, the company’s managing director.

“It represents our commitment to the advancement of traditional skills: inspiring the younger generation of craftspeople is crucial to preserving our built heritage for years to come. This is the beginning of a very treasured partnership.”

Hands-on workshops will be offered at all sites visited by the van, affording visitors the chance to learn about topics such as the care of historic masonry. This will include offering participants unique experiences including repairing a miniature wall section themselves.

Other sessions will include learning about how English Heritage staff care for historic building interiors and collections in an ‘artefacts and interiors’ workshop series.

More information on the Conservation on the Road programme is available here.