How an inspiring idea can bring people together to build new networks that benefit people and nature.
Artist Matt Rosier was commissioned by the Chilterns National Landscape for his project Luton Henge (watch the new film here!) with Revoluton Arts as local producers, as part of the Nature Calling programme. Luton Henge was officially opened with an all-day festival including dance, poetry, music and crafts at the end of July, a brilliant landmark in the creation of a fantastic community asset. It’s a great story about how an inspiring idea can bring people together to build new networks that benefit people and nature.
Part of the community
The whole Nature Calling programme had at its heart an effort to enable better access to green spaces for more people. To support this process, the Chilterns National Landscape team recruited a North Chilterns Engagement & Partnerships Officer for the delivery stage of the project. Raheed Salam worked out of Revoluton’s office and developed strong links with local people, coordinating school visits and community meetings, spreading awareness about and nurturing anticipation and affection for the Henge.
Adding to the local sense of place
Luton Henge stands in the Marsh Farm area of Leagrave Park, in an otherwise built-up area of Luton. While it sounds like this might be at odds with the locality, it’s actually well rooted in the place. The chalk used for the standing stones is the last to be extracted from a nearby quarry, and the site is just metres away from Waulud’s Bank ancient monument, and the source of the River Lea, a place that has acted as a gathering point for thousands of years. It stands in its own readymade modern ‘earthwork’, a BMX track which is still well used. It's already a nature friendly place, far from a traditional managed urban park, with egrets, bats, owls, kingfishers and wildflowers. Luton Henge ‘fits’ and it’s already an asset that the community feels an affinity for and takes pride in.
A change of ‘plan’ nurtures stronger links with Luton Borough Council
The original plan for Luton Henge was that it would be a temporary installation, touring through three sites in Luton and the Chilterns National Landscape, yet a combination of the practicalities of moving the Henge and demand from the local community for it to be a permanent feature led the Chilterns National Landscape team to apply for planning permission for it to be permanently sited in Marsh Farm. Annette Weiss, Chilterns National Landscape Head of Engagement & Partnerships, commented that while their planning staff regularly respond to development applications within the National Landscape, going through the process from the other side gave a very different perspective and the chance to make new links with Luton Borough Council.
An urban oasis – a precious part of a nature-friendly network
Matt the artist, the Chilterns team and the community were keen to make the site even more nature friendly. Their plan to manage the site as a chalk grassland was submitted as part of the planning process – all applications must now include a Biodiversity Net Gain plan demonstrating how they will deliver a 10% increase in biodiversity. Annette notes that while nature conservation was intrinsic to the project, it was useful for the team to go through the process of creating a strong BNG plan.
Much of the south of England is chalky, and protected landscapes across the region are working hard to restore this internationally rare habitat. The protected landscapes organisations have come together under the Big Chalk partnership, an effort to create better links between the nature reserves and the organisations managing. The Chilterns National Landscape is part of the partnership and the team has successfully applied for the Luton Henge site to become an approved Big Chalk project. As a precious habitat in an urban setting, Luton Henge is a great example of the ‘nature permeable UK’ concept we need to give nature a foothold to regenerate.
Inspiring connections with other organisations
Luton Henge is such a distinctive and inspiring project, and this has generated a real thirst from other organisations to incorporate the Henge into their own work.
The National Trust, whose site at Dunstable Downs is not too far from Luton is keen to make better connections with communities there. They began building greater links by providing wood for benches on site and running activities at the launch festival.
The Ridgeway National Trail team are exploring whether they can promote Luton Henge as an optional extension walk from the end of the Trail, which currently ends at Dunstable Downs.
The Chilterns team are working with Luton Parks and Countryside to develop nature trails and interpretation panels for Luton Henge.
Luton Borough Council have already had success by incorporating Luton Henge into funding bids to bring more money into nature projects in the town, securing £1m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) Nature Towns and Cities fund. This is a three-year project commencing in January 2026 which aims to improve access and connections to nature.
Revoluton Arts were also successful with a recent NLHF bid and will be delivering their Undercurrent: Movement of Jah People project – this will include festivals at Luton Henge in 2026 and 2027.
The whole project represents a knitting together of people, nature and partnership working, and the network looks set to continue to grow and spread well into the future.