Creswell Crags was already facing a huge financial challenge in 2020. Closure as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19, with unprecedented weeks ahead, now means its future hangs in the balance. At this time, there is only enough funding to see the organisation through to the end of April. Government support will help with staff wages, but without income there will be nothing to cover running and security costs of a large outdoor site, or to invest in the necessary programming and development needed to overcome the 2020 funding challenge. The team have launched a JustGiving fundraiser, which has received some early support. The gorge and lakeside paths remain open for walks but this is free to access via a public bridleway and does not generate income. The team is also remaining active through digital channels during the shutdown. However, these are difficult times for many people in the community, and the team recognise that people will rightly have greater priorities than supporting Creswell Crags.The potential loss of Creswell Crags would not just be a tragedy for the dedicated staff and volunteers. The site is of international significance for its Prehistoric heritage. It is the site of the only verified Ice Age cave art in the UK; it has more evidence of Neanderthal inhabitation than nearly anywhere else in the UK; it is the site where the oldest coloured drawing in Britain was found inscribed onto a bone; its Robin Hood cave has more early modern ‘Witch Marks’ than anywhere else in the UK. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for the flora and fauna which thrive in this Magnesian limestone landscape, it is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and is included on the UK Government’s tentative list for submission for UNESCO World Heritage Site Inscription. Around 12,000 school children take part in the Creswell Crags education programme every year. It is visited as a valued outdoor space and window into the ancient past by countless visitors, both locals and tourists, with at least 60,000 visitors a year.