Hengistbury Head visitor centre celebrates 10th anniversary with free programme of events including guided walks, pond dipping and ancient crafts

A SERIES of free events will mark the 10th anniversary of the opening of the visitor centre at Hengistbury Head.

The centre, officially opened by wildlife expert and television presenter Chris Packham in April 2014, was created to help explain the area, its history, wildlife, archaeology and geology to visitors.

Celebrations begin from 8.30pm tomorrow (Friday), with The Big Night Out – an evening under the stars exploring the wonders of the night sky, an insight into the fascinating world of moths and the possibility of seeing some bats in action.

On Saturday, events start with a guided birdwatching for beginners walk at 9am – until 10.30am. Exhibition tours will also start and 10am and continue throughout the day.

From 10.30am to 12.30pm there will be a mixed crafts session including firelighting, pigments and paints, wool spinning, flint knapping and pottery.

Also from 10.30am to 11.15am there will be a family nature activity focusing on moths and from 11.15am to midday the session will look at pond life and bugs.

Visitors can join a ranger from midday until 12.30pm for an up close ‘meet and bleat’ with a small herd of Cotswold sheep, which play an important role in conservation locally, or choose to join a gin tasting session accompanied by ukulele music.

Other events for guests to take part in include a wildflower wander which takes place from midday until 1pm, a guided poetry walk from 1pm until 2pm and the Big Geology Walk from 2pm until 4pm, which sees visitors step back in time 40 million years.

Opportunities to meet the sheep will be held again at 2pm to 2.30pm as well as another pond dipping session 2.30pm-3.15pm before an ancient storytelling session for adults covering the prehistoric mythological cycle at 3pm to 4.30pm.

At 7pm there will be demonstrations of Iron Age metalworking and bronze casting before a night-time walk from 7.30pm until 9pm.

On Sunday events include a guided birdwatching walk, more crafts, pond dipping and sheep meets as well as an autumn rag wreath making session from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.

There will also be a nature journaling guided walk at 2pm before a final wildlife wander at 3.30pm until 4.30pm.

Although the events are free, many are ticketed due to restricted numbers.

For more information on what’s on and to sign up for events visit www.visithengistburyhead.co.uk/visitor-centre/The-Visitor-Centre.aspx