Hogmoor Inclosure’s Secrets of the Heath

Hogmoor Inclosure managed by the Land Trust, saw over 2000 visitors flock to the popular Secrets of the Heath event last Saturday, 15 April. In partnership with South Downs National Park, Deadwater Valley Trust, Whitehill & Bordon Community Trust, families were invited to enjoy a free event filled with wildlife and history at this well-loved site.

This popular event now in its second year at Hogmoor Inclosure, offers a valuable opportunity for local people and visitors to learn about the importance of heathlands and greenspaces, and how they provide quality greenspace that will protect the heathlands for years to come as well as provide community benefit.

There were lots of activities on offer for families and visitors to get involved with, including a dawn chorus walk, folk stories, archery and face painting to name a few. The hands-on experience showcased precious reptiles and amphibians that live in the Whitehill & Bordon area, alongside learning about farm animals to.

History was brought to life by re-enactments from a range of groups covering the history of the Bronze Age, Roman, Viking and Saxon times. Families and visitors were invited to learn about life in days gone by, enjoy local stories, hunt for bugs, create homemade dragonflies, join a guided site tour and participate in a Viking battle.

Hogmoor Inclosure is the largest Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) of its kind in the UK, containing a rich variety of habitats and natural features. The open space is managed by the Land Trust, a national charity committed to the long-term sustainable management of open space for community benefit, in partnership with Deadwater Valley Trust. The 54 hectares of woodland and heathland provides the perfect location a variety of species to thrive, and includes play areas, fantastic walks, picnic areas and is host to Café Hogmoor and the Beehive community facility for hire.

To find out more about this site click here – Hogmoor Inclosure – The Land Trust

Marie-Anne Phillips, Estates Officer at the Land Trust commented: “We were thrilled to see so many people attend this fantastic event at Hogmoor Inclosure on Saturday which the Land Trust and Deadwater Valley Trust manage on behalf of Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company, for the benefit of the residents of Whitehill and Bordon and surrounding communities.

“It is always great to see families exploring this well-loved site and engaging with the heathlands and wildlife that live here and learning about the history through hands on re-enactments. We hope that this will continue to be an annual event that encourages more people to come back to visit the site in the future and benefit from the amenities we have on offer”.