Becky from Winchester Heritage Open Days has put together a list of highlights especially for Winchester Bloggers to help you celebrate Winchester's Natural Heritage this September.

Did you know that England's newest National Park is right on our doorstep or that we have a nature reserve in the centre of our wonderful city? There really is an abundance of natural heritage to be discovered in Winchester and so we were delighted when Heritage Open Days announced they are celebrating Heritage and Nature this year. Many of our local organisers have responded to this by offering events to share their ‘natural habitat’, and so we thought we'd put together a list of highlights especially for Winchester Bloggers to help you celebrate Winchester's Natural Heritage this September!

Remember every event which is listed here is free as part of Winchester's Heritage Open Days, and these are just a small selection of what is on offer for local residents 7th to 10th September 2017.

An exploration of Matterley Bowl
Tours at 9am, 11am and 1pm on Thursday 7th September

Join Jayne Chapman, Reserves Officer at Butterfly Conservation and Ashley Whitlock, a local butterfly expert, on a tour to the ridgeline to the Cheesefoot Head SSSI to identify wild flowers and look for late flying butterflies and day flying moths.

Cosmic Walk & Labyrinth in the gardens of the University of Winchester
Tours 11am and 12:30 on both Thursday 7th & Friday 8th September

Discover the secret garden on the West Down Campus and stroll from the beginning of time as we discover the unfolding story of the Cosmos. The Cosmic Walk features a Labyrinth, and visitors are invited to bring a picnic. Places on the tour need to be pre-booked.

Garden at Friends Meeting House
Open 11am to 5pm on Saturday 9th & 1pm to 5pm on Sunday 10th September

Enjoy cream teas in the gardens of the Friends Meeting House, or play croquet on the lawn. There is also a labyrinth and inside the house you can discover the incredible contribution Quakers have made to our world.

Gateway to the South Downs National Park
Open 11am to 4pm on Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th September

Winchester City Mill, is the official gateway to the South Downs National Park. As well as watching flour being made, and then taking it home to bake with, visitors can discover more about the South Downs’ special landscapes and wildlife, find ideas for local walks and experiences, as learn how easy it can be to explore by train, buse or bicycle.

Gilbert White & The Oates Collection
Open 10:30am to 5pm on Thursday 7th September

A few miles outside of Winchester is Gilbert White’s family home. Here you can discover his story as well as explore galleries celebrating two very different explorers of the natural world and 30 acres of heritage gardens and wild flower meadow to explore.

River Dipping & more at St Cross Meadows [sponsored by Carter Jonas]
Open 10am to 4pm on Friday 8th September

Join the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Life Trust to explore the wildlife rich meadows and streams next to the historic Hospital of St Cross. Learn all about how conservation grazing is bringing back our native wildflowers and insects. You can even try river dipping: taking a sample of life from the chalk stream to assess the health of the river.

Watercress & Gin!
Pre-booked tour at 6pm on Thursday 7th September

An integral part of our natural heritage is watercress, so we are delighted you will be able to explore the history of Watercress in Hampshire, take a guided walk around the beds and learn more about the health-giving properties of this amazing herb. There will be even an opportunity to adjourn to the on-site Winchester Distillery for a tour of the site with a free tasting of their award-winning watercress gin. Tours are for over 18years only and have to be pre-booked.

For more information on these events and others as well as our two competitions and booking details please visit the Winchester Heritage Open Days website. Alternatively, follow us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.

Becky Brown, Volunteer for Winchester Heritage Open Days @WinchesterHods

Winchester heritage events coming up in September

Becky from Winchester Heritage Open Days has put together a list of highlights especially for Winchester Bloggers to help you celebrate Winchester's Natural Heritage this September.