Time to open your doors and gates for this year’s Heritage Open Days

Lancaster City Council is inviting everyone who can open doors and gates to amazing places for Heritage Open Days to join in this year’s celebration of our local history and natural heritage.

This year’s national event, which takes place between 11 and 20 September, will focus on Hidden Nature and the natural world.  From ancient woodlands, farmland steeped in history and hidden gardens to cliff top walks, urban oases and everything in between, this year’s packed programme aims to offer everyone the chance to discover hidden gems on their doorstep.

In recent years, venues and community groups around Lancaster and Morecambe Bay have invited people to take a peek behind the scenes of the Dukes Theatre, ‘Go on the War Path’ with a talk on Military Heritage, see a live archaeological dig in progress on Castle Hill or take a whistle stop tour of the wonderful Winter Gardens in Morecambe.

With a wider range of venues invited to take part, if you can offer a special place or space which has a fascinating story to tell, has a famous connection or can offer an activity in a long lost skill, the council urges you to register to get involved.

There’s no requirement to stick to the theme or hold events on more than one day during the celebration. Organisations who have limited their opening to one weekend or day are encouraged to continue doing so.

Local events will be given plenty of limelight in promotional materials being created by the council ahead of the celebration to ensure as many residents and visitors as possible enjoy discovering how the local heritage and hidden nature has shaped the area as it is today.

Councillor Jean Parr, Cabinet member for arts, culture, leisure and tourism, said:  "Our district is blessed with a wealth of historic and natural heritage across Lancaster, Morecambe and beyond.

"Every village and hamlet has its own tale to tell. Uncovering stories, sites, places and people that traditional history has overlooked or forgotten has always been at the very heart of Heritage Open Days which we are keen to support each year.”

To register to be part of Heritage Open Days or to find out more, visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk  Registration opens mid-March and ends August 1.  However, to receive full promotional support from the city council tourism marketing team who will be coordinating the local programme of events, you should register your event no later than May 1.

If you want to discuss your ideas, you can call the council on 01524 582870 or email tourism@lancaster.gov.uk

Last updated: 02 March 2020