Sea Cadets-Aberdeen has secured a £21,725 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver an ambitious maritime heritage programme during the highly anticipated Tall Ships Races 2025. The project aims to celebrate Aberdeen’s historic ties to international trade and shipbuilding, while engaging thousands of young people and visitors in the city’s seafaring story.
At the heart of the project is the Aberdeen Line Heritage Marquee, to be featured at the Discovery Zone throughout the Tall Ships Races. This interactive exhibition will explore the legacy of Aberdeen’s shipyards, its pivotal role in the global tea trade, and the city’s contributions to maritime commerce. Sea Cadets, alongside local volunteers and heritage professionals, will bring this history to life through storytelling, demonstrations, and hands-on learning.
A unique highlight will be the launch of a commemorative tea blend, combining tea leaves historically imported from China aboard Aberdeen-built clipper ships with modern tea cultivated in Scotland — a blend symbolising the city's past and present connections to the tea trade.
Two major heritage trails form the educational backbone of the initiative:
- Tall Ships Heritage Trail – Delivered to all 49 primary schools in Aberdeen, this trail will reach over 6,500 pupils through printed and digital formats. It will introduce children to Aberdeen’s maritime past and the global impact of tall ships.
- Tea Heritage Trail – This trail uncovers the city’s historic links to the tea trade, from the dramatic races of 19th-century clippers to Aberdeen’s cultural connections with tea traditions and social activism.
Both trails will be open to families and visitors during the Tall Ships Races and will be supported by a new educational website: www.aberdeenline200.org, ensuring a lasting digital legacy for the project.
Peter Ritchie, Commanding Officer of Sea Cadets-Aberdeen, said:
“This generous grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund enables us to bring Aberdeen’s maritime history to life for our cadets and the wider community. It’s a fantastic opportunity to educate and inspire the next generation about our city’s pivotal role in global trade.”
Tim Holmes, Chair of the Aberdeen Line 200 Committee, added:
“We’re proud to collaborate with Sea Cadets-Aberdeen on this exciting initiative. Through the trails, marquee, and website, we aim to help people of all ages rediscover Aberdeen’s rich maritime heritage.”
As the Tall Ships Races 2025 prepares to make its mark on Aberdeen, this project ensures that the city's remarkable seafaring legacy is honoured, explored, and shared with the world.
