Box Hill Discover and Learn!!!

The National Trust at Box Hill will be celebrating the completion of its new Learning and Discovery Centre with an Open Day on 26^th October 2009 from 10am until 4pm.

The Open Day will enable you to enjoy the new Box Hill Learning and Discovery Zone and to participate in a number of free activities and games on the Day, encouraging you to explore and understand more of Box Hill.

Art and Crafts Tent

Find the answers to different questions about Box Hill from information in the Discovery Zone and by exploring countryside near to the Centre.

Mini-beast Sculpture Tapestry

Collect items from the Hill to make real or make-believe model mini-beasts to produce a Mini-beast Tapestry.

Wildlife Artist in Residence

Helen Shackleton will be painting some wildlife in her own colourful style while you watch and ask questions.

Raffle

Win the chance to attend one of the Juniper Hall Field Studies Centre Weekend Short Courses. “Orchids of South East England –David Streeter” or “Butterflies and Moths of SE England – Ken Wilmot”.

Refreshment Tent

Tables and chairs under cover

Friends of Box Hill Stall National Trust Stall Payne’s Honey Nathan Brown Cycle Hire

Juniper Hall Field Studies Council Stall Surrey Hills AONB Stall Autumn Leaves and Fungus Display

Box Hill’s Top 5

Gentle Walks with Stories - approximately 45mins long, led by different enthusiasts showing their 5 favourite aspects of Box Hill including historical sites, fungi foray, lives in the undergrowth and the mythology of trees.

Recollections of Box Hill

Adorn the Pear tree outside the Learning Space with your favourite recollections of Box Hill – recent or long ago.

Games on the Donkey Green

Butterfly Rounders, Pigeons and Sparrowhawk , Spiders Web Maze and Mushroom Parachute

Views on the new Discovery and Learning Centre

Influence where any further money is spent – you will be able to give their views on the best bits of the new Centre and what else you would like to see.

Wardens and Volunteers will be roaming around and available to answer questions that you are interested in.

There will be plenty to see and do whatever the weather!

Visit to Claremont Landscape Garden

The Friends of Box Hill have obtained the very special privilege of an evening visit to the glorious 18th century gardens at Claremont on July 31st after the public have left. If you are not yet a Friend, you can become one, ( minimum subscription £5.00) and qualify for this visit. Arrive at 7.30 pm and find that a magnificent Champagne Picnic is provided and then wander around the lake and temples at your leisure .
The cost is £20.00 a head and to book a place contact Sandra Wedgwood by email sandra.wedgwood@ntlworld.com or telephone 01306 889941

The Newly Created Discovery Zone in the Shop at the top of Box Hill

Do come and visit the exciting new Discovery Zone in the National Trust Shop at the top of Box Hill where there is something to interest all ages. Most obvious are the spectacular murals with their gorgeous colours created by the artist Helen Shackleton. There is also a fascinating video show made using old postcards which demonstrates very clearly what has changed and what has not and there are several interactive games for children. All the publicity has been positive and it is proving very popular. It is in fact the only information area in the National Trust which is combined with a shop. The project has been spearheaded and 50% financed by The Friends of Box Hill with the other half coming from Biffa to whom the Friends are most grateful. They are also particularly indebted to the hard work and close collaboration of Head Warden, Mark Dawson, Education Officer, Sarah Russell, and Enterprises Manager, Suzanne Taylor.

Update of the Friends of Box Hill website

The Friends of Box Hill website www.friendsofboxhill.org.uk has been updated and now includes reviews of all available publications in the Box Hill Books series as well as the map of the Hill. Currently we are not running an e-shop for you to buy these, but there is an order from you can download and send to us with your cheque. You can also download a form to join the Friends.

If you would like to share links between our website and yours, please send us an email.

Watch this space!

The blog is a new feature for the Friends of Box Hill website - look out for news coming up soon.