Heath Week 2022 is a family-orientated, free of charge, celebratory week aimed purely at spreading the word about the precious local heaths. From Hazeley Heath and Bramshill Plantation in the west, to Ockham and Wisley Commons in the east, Swinley Forest and Chobham Common in the north, to Caesar’s Camp, Long Valley and Ash Ranges in the south. The Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area spans over 20 miles of Surrey, Hampshire & Berkshire and we would love you to join us in celebrating this fantastic landscape and help us protect it for the future.
Sarah Bunce (Communications Officer) from the Thames Basin Heaths Partnership explains more.
FREE activities for all the family! Heath Week 2022 – Monday 25th to Sunday 31st July 2022 – with the Thames Basin Heaths Partnership
Kick off the school holidays with a local adventure! Accept an invitation to join us for Heath Week 2022 and we’ll take you on a heathland adventure to discover a local landscape that’s rarer than rainforests! There’ll be nature walks, fire engines to clamber into, arts & crafts, scavenger hunts, our popular Reptile & Amphibian Roadshows and much more.
What’s it all about?
Not far from where you live is a precious heather-clad landscape! Perhaps you already know it, but didn’t realise how rare it is? In the last 200 years, we’ve lost around 84% of the heathland we once had and the remaining fragments are super-special. We’d love you to discover it for yourself, so we’re putting on a whole week of free events to celebrate our heaths, their wildlife and their cultural history.
To whet your appetite, there are amazing nocturnal birds that come all the way from Africa to breed here, rare butterflies you won’t see elsewhere, native lizards & snakes, and so much more. Heathland is wonderful and precious and we all need to play our part in protecting it. Join us for a free activity and discover how.
Find the full line-up of activities and booking details for bookable events at: www.tbhpartnership.org.uk/heath-week/.
Here’s a taster of what’s on offer…
Butterflies & Other Things With Wings – Monday 25th July 2022 – 10 am to 3 pm – Chobham Common, Surrey.
Butterfly walks and arts & crafts activities are available all day! Discover the butterflies and other invertebrates you might find on a heathland in summer.
FREE. Suitable for all, especially families with school-age children. Drop-in anytime between 10 am and 3 pm. NO BOOKING REQUIRED! Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
Wildfire Roadshow – Monday 25th July 2022 – 11 am to 2 pm – Chobham Common, Surrey.
Meet the folk that fight the fires! Clamber into the cab of a fire engine with Surrey Fire & Rescue Service.
FREE. Suitable for all, especially families with school-age children. Drop-in anytime between 11 am and 2 pm. NO BOOKING REQUIRED! Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
Heath Week Herbivores – Tues 26th July 2022 – 11 am to 2 pm – Whitmoor Common, Surrey.
Meet our wardens and hear about the benefits of grazing heathland with animals such as cattle, goats and ponies.
FREE. Suitable for all, especially families with school-age children. Drop-in anytime between 11 am and 2 pm. NO BOOKING REQUIRED! Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
Three Churrs for Horsell Common (Nightjar walk) – Tuesday 26th July 2022 – 8 pm to 10:30 pm – Horsell Common, Surrey.
As the sun goes down, the magic begins… Explore Horsell Common with Education Officer Michael and discover the secret twilight world of the Nightjar!
FREE. Suitable for all. BOOKING ESSENTIAL! No dogs, please.
Family Nature Day – Wednesday 27 July 2022 – 10 am to 1 pm – Yateley Common, Hampshire.
Come along to Yateley Common and take part in a fantastic self-led family activity. Explore the nature trail, with bug hunting and pond dipping as you go!
FREE. Suitable for all, especially families with school-age children. Drop-in anytime between 10 am and 1 pm. NO BOOKING REQUIRED! Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
Wildfire Roadshow – Wednesday 27th July 2022 – 11 am to 2 pm – Barossa, Surrey/Berkshire border.
Meet the folk that fight the fires! Take a closer look at the equipment Surrey Fire & Rescue Service use to fight fires locally.
FREE. Suitable for all, especially families with school-age children. Drop-in anytime between 11 am and 2 pm. NO BOOKING REQUIRED! Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
Three Churrs for Horsell Common (Nightjar walk) – Wednesday 27th July 2022 – 8 pm to 10:30 pm – Horsell Common, Surrey.
As the sun goes down, the magic begins… Explore Horsell Common with Education Officer Michael and discover the secret twilight world of the Nightjar!
FREE. Suitable for all. BOOKING ESSENTIAL! No dogs, please.
Heathland for Beginners Walk – Thursday 28th July 2022 – 10 am to 12 pm – Wildmoor Heath, Berkshire.
Discover a local landscape rarer than rainforest and find out about some of the amazing plants and animals that live here.
FREE. Suitable for all, especially families with school-age children. BOOKING ESSENTIAL! No dogs, please.
Sensory Scavenger Hunt – Thursday 28th July 2022 – 11 am to 2 pm – Horsell Common, Surrey.
Bring the family to meet Warden Zoe and try out her “Sensory Scavenger Hunt”. Discover heathland in a different way and get all of your senses tingling.
FREE. Suitable for all, especially families with school-age children. Drop-in anytime between 11 am and 2 pm. NO BOOKING REQUIRED! Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
Discovering Nature…with your phone – Thursday 28th July 2022 – 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm – Wildmoor Heath, Berkshire.
Your phone can help you identify and learn more about the wonderful plants and animals we share a planet with. It’s also a lot easier to carry around than a bag of books!
FREE. Suitable for all, especially families with school-age children. BOOKING ESSENTIAL! No dogs, please.
Reptile & Amphibian Roadshow – Friday 29th July 2022 – 11 am to 3 pm – Ockham Common, Surrey.
Meet some of the amazing amphibians and reptiles that inhabit your local heath, with the team from Amphibian & Reptile Conservation!
FREE. Suitable for all, especially families with school-age children. Drop-in anytime between 11 am and 3 pm. NO BOOKING REQUIRED! Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
Wildfire Roadshow – Friday 29th July 2022 – 11 am to 2 pm – Caesar’s Camp, Surrey/Hampshire border.
Meet the folk that fight the fires! Get up close to a fire engine, find out how you can help spread the fire prevention message and make the countryside a safer place.
FREE. Suitable for all, especially families with school-age children. Drop-in anytime between 11 am and 2 pm. NO BOOKING REQUIRED! Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
Mindfulness Walk – Friday 29 July 2022 – 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm – Caesar’s Camp, Surrey/Hampshire border.
Slow right down and engage your senses as you immerse yourself in a wonderful landscape. A great way to unwind and reconnect with nature, for adults and children alike.
FREE. Suitable for everyone able to walk 1-1.5 miles. BOOKING ESSENTIAL! No dogs, please.
Nightjars at Ockham – Friday 29th July 2022 – 8 pm to 10:30 pm – Ockham Common, Surrey.
Explore Ockham Common and discover the secret twilight world of the Nightjar – a mysterious bird that remains hidden during the day!
FREE. Suitable for all. BOOKING ESSENTIAL! No dogs, please.
Forestry Finds – Saturday 30th July 2022 – 9:30 am to 4 pm – Bramshill Plantation, Hampshire.
Join in with free arts & crafts or follow our self-guided nature trail. Discover the history of the forest and the birds, reptiles, butterflies and wildflowers that depend on the forest’s habitats.
FREE. Suitable for all, especially families with school-age children. Drop-in anytime between 9:30 am and 4 pm. NO BOOKING REQUIRED! Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
Sensory Scavenger Hunt – Sunday 31st July 2022 – 11 am to 2 pm – Broadmoor Bottom, Berkshire.
Bring the family to meet Warden Zoe and try out her “Sensory Scavenger Hunt”. Discover heathland in a different way and get all of your senses tingling.
FREE. Suitable for all, especially families with school-age children. Drop-in anytime between 11 am and 2 pm. NO BOOKING REQUIRED! Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
Reptile & Amphibian Roadshow – Sunday 31st July 2022 – time TBC – Yateley Common, Hampshire.
Come and meet the team from HIWARG – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Amphibian & Reptile Group. They’ll be showcasing some of our amazing native species with live amphibians and reptiles!
FREE. Suitable for all, especially families with school-age children. NO BOOKING REQUIRED! Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
Wildfire Roadshow – Sunday 31st July 2022 – 11 am to 2 pm – Horsell Common, Surrey.
Meet the folk that fight the fires! Clamber into the cab of a fire engine with Surrey Fire & Rescue Service.
FREE. Suitable for all, especially families with school-age children. Drop-in anytime between 11 am and 2 pm. NO BOOKING REQUIRED! Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
Chobham Common History Walk – Sunday 31st July 2022 – 2 pm to 4 pm – Chobham Common, Surrey.
Join the Chobham Commons Preservation Committee on a free guided walk exploring the southern part of historic Chobham Common.
FREE, but donations to the Chobham Commons Preservation Committee are welcome. Suitable for everyone able to comfortably walk on heathland tracks for around 3 miles. BOOKING ESSENTIAL! Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
Nightjars and Nocturnal Nature! – Sunday 31st July 2022 – 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm – Whitmoor Common, Surrey.
Discover the wonders of nocturnal heathland nature. From distinctive Nightjar churring to marvellous moths. We’ll be doing guided walks of the heath at night, and teaching moth observing skills that are easy to replicate at home e.g. wine roping and sugaring.
FREE. Suitable for everyone. BOOKING ESSENTIAL! Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
Sarah Bunce (Communications Officer) for Thames Basin Heaths Partnership
More at www.tbhpartnership.org.uk.
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Thames Basin Heaths Partnership
Full programme at www.tbhpartnership.org.uk/heath-week/
Image credits
All images provided by www.tbhpartnership.org.uk & Ash Parish News
