"...but to make this succeed you need to reach the people who wouldn't normally do anything. You need to grab their attention..."

Yes true. I think campaigns where the general public need to get involved would work better on a local level. Where something they can actually care about is threatened.

"...and a hippy with a dog on a rope saying 'but this is our heritage man!' ain't gonna do that :-)"

Aww man, that was one of my logo ideas! ;)

What is needed really is a written constitution or a statement stating the purpose of the group. If the group is formed as non-profit-making organisation (a Trust or Charitable Company), there is a chance of recieving grants and public funding. Especially to help run the group... but that means lots of wanky paperwork for a few lucky folk.... who usually get pissed off with being the few who do all the work. Maybe better to do it as a loose collective perhaps?