This paper discusses the potential for integrating Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) into professional heritage practice with the aim of enhancing the accessibility of public-facing guidance documents. We developed HAZEL, a GenAI chatbot fine-tuned to assist with revising written guidance relating to heritage conservation and interpretation. Using quantitative assessments, we compare HAZEL's performance to that of ChatGPT (GPT-4) in a series of tasks related to the guidance writing process. The results of this comparison indicate a slightly better performance of HAZEL over ChatGPT, suggesting that the GenAI chatbot is more effective once the underlying large language model (LLM) has been fine-tuned. However, we also note significant limitations, particularly in areas requiring cultural sensitivity and more advanced technical expertise. These findings suggest that, while GenAI cannot replace human heritage professionals in technical authoring tasks, its potential to automate and expedite certain aspects of guidance writing could offer valuable benefits to heritage organisations, especially in resource-constrained contexts.

The remains of a rare 19th Century dock built for Charles Darwin's ship HMS Beagle has been recognised as a site of national importance. The submerged mud berth on the River Roach in Rochford, Essex, will now be protected against unauthorised change. The ship, launched in 1820, allowed Darwin to make observations that led to his theory of natural selection. "We are glad to see this site in a quiet corner of Essex given national protection," said Historic England. "This is a fascinating example of a rare piece of maritime history."