We are delighted to launch Heneb’s 5-Year Strategy, setting out our ambition to shape the future of archaeology in Wales through community, innovation, and sustainability.
The strategy was unveiled at a launch event at the Senedd on Thursday 29 January 2026, sponsored by Heledd Fychan, Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central and Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for Culture.
Five Strategic Priorities for Wales’s Archaeological Future
The comprehensive strategy, titled Revealing Wales’ Past, Shaping Our Future, outlines five interconnected strategic goals:
Goal One: Strengthen Public Services: Heneb advises all 22 Welsh local authorities on planning and development, provides specialist support for landowners and developers, and manages the statutory Historic Environment Record. By 2030, it aims to enhance service provision, increase digital access to records, and support local resilience through Regional Advisory Panels.
Goal Two: Grow Income and Resilience: Plans include growing developer-led archaeology year on year, diversifying income through fundraising, membership and sponsorships, and launching regional campaigns with accessible donation and legacy-giving channels.
Goal Three: Engage and Include: Heneb is building inclusive, community-led engagement through public events, lectures, festivals and conferences while ensuring Wales’s diverse communities are represented and developing its Discovery Hub mobile exhibition space.
Goal Four: Lead Innovation and Research: The organisation will identify excavation and research projects, lead collaborative university partnerships through pan-Wales thematic studies, expand use of LiDAR and drone mapping, launch wellbeing excavations and monuments-at-risk programmes, and share data openly with schools and researchers.
Goal Five: Grow as One Organisation: Actions for the merged organisation include structured professional development, bilingual communications, inclusive hiring, and modernised IT and internal systems.
Heneb’s Chair, Dr Carol Bell, said: “With a national footprint, Heneb draws on over 50 years of experience embedded in Wales’ four historic regional archaeological trusts. We’re building the future of archaeology in Wales while uncovering its history and bringing the past alive for communities across the country. Our five-year strategy outlines how we’re delivering on our public duty, growing our capacity and resilience, and ensuring communities connect with their heritage”.
Heledd Fychan MS said: “Wales’ archaeological heritage belongs to us all, and Heneb’s strategy ensures it will be protected, celebrated and shared with every community across Wales. This is a bold, exciting vision that recognises both the threats we face from climate change and the opportunities to connect people with the rich history beneath their feet. I’m proud to support this and look forward to following Heneb’s story over the next five years and beyond.”
Responding to the Climate Emergency
A cornerstone of the strategy is Heneb’s response to climate change, which poses an urgent threat to coastal and lowland archaeological sites. The charity is partnering with Natural Resources Wales and Cadw on monitoring projects while prioritising sites at risk from erosion and flooding.
Recent projects demonstrate this commitment in action, including the race-against-time excavation at Dinas Dinlle, where an Iron Age hillfort is being lost to coastal erosion, and ongoing community mapping work that combines landscape heritage with climate adaptation planning.
Community-Led Archaeology in Action
The strategy highlights Heneb’s track record of groundbreaking community projects, including the Pembrokeshire Iron Age chariot burial discovery, which has inspired school visits and public events across Wales, and the Ynys Cybi intergenerational mapping project, which serves as a model for grassroots, bilingual archaeology.
Richard Nicholls, CEO of Heneb, said: “This strategy marks an exciting new chapter for archaeology in Wales. Heneb brings together decades of regional expertise with a bold national vision – protecting sites under threat, pioneering new research, and ensuring every community can connect with the heritage on their doorstep. Together with our partners, supporters and communities, we will protect, explore and share the stories of Wales — for today, and for generations to come.”
Heneb’s core partners are: Cadw, Welsh Government, Local authorities, Natural Resources Wales, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Wales Council for Voluntary Action, Portable Antiquities Scheme Cymru and members, donors, academic and community partners.
Andrew White, Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund Wales said: “This strategy reflects the kind of ambitious, community-led approach that helps make heritage relevant and accessible to everyone. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to support Heneb’s vital work to protect and share Wales’ archaeological heritage. We look forward to continuing our partnership as Heneb brings Wales’ past to life for new audiences and safeguards irreplaceable sites for future generations.”
Dr Kathryn Roberts, Chief Executive of Cadw added: “Cadw is delighted to work proactively with Heneb to our common goal to promote the good management and appreciation of the Historic Environment of Wales. The historic environment of Wales is a precious asset that belongs to us all and is a vital legacy for us to pass to future generations. This strategy recognises the important role that archaeologists can play supporting our heritage and helping our communities and young people to engage with and enjoy our unique heritage.”
Get Involved and Find out More
Members of the public, heritage professionals, and organisations interested in supporting Heneb’s work can visit www.heneb.org.uk to donate, volunteer, or learn about upcoming projects and events.
Heneb’s strategy includes consultation with key partners including Cadw, Natural Resources Wales, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Trust, Amgueddfa Cymru, Local Authorities, and Universities across Wales.
The full strategy document, Heneb Strategy 2025–2030: Revealing Wales’s Past, Shaping Our Future, is available in English and Welsh at Strategy – Heneb
