PEMBROKE Town Walls Trust is celebrating a year marked by major achievements in heritage skills development, community engagement and hands-on conservation.

All of these achievements are helping to drive forward the protection of Pembroke’s historic medieval walls.

One of the standout successes has been the Intermediary Stone Masonry Course, which was fully booked, oversubscribed and received excellent feedback. The course attracted an even gender split and has drawn interest from respected heritage partners, providing strong evidence for future funding bids. Alongside this, the Trust led work to restore a section of the town wall, giving the community a visible sign of progress in safeguarding this important landmark.

The Trust is also expanding its educational offer with two fully funded heritage training opportunities this spring:

Free Heritage Impact Assessment Training offers a one-day professional course designed for heritage consultants, planners and conservation officers looking to strengthen their skills in evaluating and managing historic assets.

Listed Building Consent: A Step-by-Step Guide is a practical one-day course supporting current and prospective listed building owners in understanding the consent process and their responsibilities.

Community enthusiasm for the Trust’s work continues to grow. Recent polling shows strong public appetite for more wall restoration, as well as increased heritage content and hands-on activities. Social media engagement has also reached new heights, with dramatic growth in reach, impressions and followers over the past year.

This momentum has helped open new pathways for partnership and funding. Following discussions at the PAVS Funding Fair, the Heritage Lottery Fund encouraged the Trust to submit an Expression of Interest, strengthening future prospects for conservation and community projects.

The Trust has also celebrated the dedication of its volunteers and supporters. From guided walks to stone-moving sessions and event attendance, the community’s involvement remains at the heart of everything the Trust achieves.