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Heritage Open Days – Northleach guided walk

The history, heritage and attractions of the beautiful town of Northleach will be explored during a free guided walk on Saturday 10 September as part of Heritage Open Days.

The history, heritage and attractions of the beautiful town of Northleach will be explored during a free guided walk on Saturday 10 September as part of Heritage Open Days.

Starting at 11am from Escape to the Cotswolds, the discovery centre for the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the walk will be led by Cotswold Voluntary Warden Colin Boulton, who will take visitors on a gentle two hour walk around Northleach.

As well as discovering the rich history of this once internationally important wool town including the magnificent Church of St Peter and St Paul, the walk will take in Escape to the Cotswolds where the fascinating history of the Cotswolds AONB can be explored. Visitors will also be able to see inside one of the original cell blocks in the Old Prison, and view the Lloyd Baker Collection of Rural Life, a nationally important collection, located behind the Old Prison, which features a fascinating array of agricultural implements and ‘bygones’.

Throughout the 4-day Heritage Open Days festival, the Northleach Historical Society will be displaying a mini exhibition about Northleach in the Escape to the Cotswolds centre.


Heritage Open Days at Northleach

Escape to the Cotswolds is taking part in this year’s Heritage Open Days with the opportunity to find out more about the Old Prison, the historic market town of Northleach and the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

From Thursday to Sunday, the Northleach Historical Society will be having  special exhibition in Escape to the Cotswolds to help people find out more about the history of this pretty market town – once the capital of the European wool trade.

The Old Prison will be open as usual providing an opportunity to see inside one of the original cell blocks of the Northleach House of Correction.

Visitors will also be able to walk around and view the Lloyd Baker Collection of Rural Life – a unique and nationally important personal collection of agricultural ‘bygones’.

A free guided walk around the town of Northleach will also take place on Saturday from 11am. No pre-booking required.

For further details, call the Cotswolds Conservation Board on 01451 862000.


Upton Cheyney Chilli Festival

This will be our third festival, and with the experience gained from the previous events we are hoping to put on a event that will be even better than before!

The one day festival will be bigger this year, although the old favourites such as the Chilli Eating Competition and the Chilli Tasting Table will be very much part of it. On top of this the chilli farm will of course be open to visit, which this year includes our sponsored show tunnel – courtesy of Simpson Seeds.

There will also be a chilli growers competition where enthusiasts will be encouraged to enter their fruits into a variety of catagories, to include funniest looking chilli and sexiest chilli! There will be demonstrations on sauce making as well as a demo on smoking, which will be based around small scale smoking using a Bradley Smoker as well as larger scale smoking using our soon to be constructed smoke house!

Food and drink will play a major role, with a chilli themed BBQ running throughout the day, the farm shop opening its doors for chilli related cuisene in the evening, and a cider influenced bar being open from midday through till close.

The festival is very much aimed at famillies and as such we will once again have a range of bouncy castles, and slides, as well as the Kangaroo boxing suits and traditional farmyard fun and games.

Pony rides and tractor rides will be taking place and of course everyone is encouraged to walk around the farm taking in the amazing scenery and far-reaching views.

The evening will be slightly less chilli related, although our bands will keep you hot hot hot with their funky sounds!

The daytime event – which starts at midday – will have a small entrance fee, whilst the evening event is tickets only.


Ilmington Show

Celebrate Bank Holiday Monday at the biggest village show in the North Cotswolds, at Ilmington (between Stratford on Avon and Chipping Campden). Highlights included a Spitfire flypast, a Waterball Ride, a dog agility display and a daredevil stunt team. All this plus the traditional village fete features: the horticultural show, Morris dancing, games, raffles, jam and sweets stalls and a monster tombola.

The May Queen opens the show at 1 p.m.

Entrance: adults £2.50, children £1.50, and free car parking.


126th Hawkesbury Horticultural Show & Fair

Carnival Parade through the village starting with crowning the Carnival Queen at The Plain at 2.00pm.

Gates open at 12.30pm.  Entry (pay at the gate) – Adults £4, Senior Citizens £3, Children £2, Family ticket £10.  Pre paid tickets available at The Village Shop & The Post Office, Hawkesbury Upton.  Free car parking off High Street.  For further information or to book a stall phone 01454 232910 or email: vicky@the-hollies.co.uk


Christmas in Cirencester

From 25th November to 11th December, the heart of Cirencester will be transformed by our Christmas Market; some fifty beautifully adorned wooden chalets, each decorated with festive swags and white pea lights, between them selling a wide range of clothes, gifts and toys, together with festive food and drink. We are currently inviting expressions of interest from traders who would like to be a part of our Christmas Market 2011. If you would be interested in work opportunities as a steward or exhibitor assistant, please contact us or visit the website.


Festival of the Tree at Westonbirt

The festival will include big wood carving among many other new attractions to celebrate the UN International Year of Forests.  This year, Tree Aid are taking a step back from the Festival of the Tree to focus on their other fundraising ventures, so the event’s main beneficiary will be Westonbirt’s own charity, the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum.

Westonbirt, the National Arboretum, nr Tetbury – tel: 01666 880220 www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt


National Trust: Apple Days

A weekend apple extravaganza from 11am – 5pm.  Displays of many varieties, old and new, plus a juicing maching in action.  Taste applies, juices and delicious home-cooked apple recipes in our restaurant.  Meet the team of local apple experts.  Buy apples, juice and cider.  Apple activities for children.  More information:  Visitor Services – 01386 852410, snowshillmanor@nationaltrust.org.uk.  Normal admission charges apply.


Brockhampton Produce Show and Fete

Display by the Thames Valley Morris Men, the Fun Dog Show, Children’s Races and Grand Tug of War, Raffl, Tombola and Sideshows and a fantastic Auction of show produce.  Wash that all down with a cup of tea and slice of cake, gorge yourself on the BBQ or just sit on a haybale and soak up the atmosphere with a glass of beer or Pimms.


Eastleach Village Fete

Famed White Elephant stall, homemade produce, teas, Pimms, BBQ, games, raffles and prize draws, tombola, bookstall, children’s play area.