Scores of parishioners and visitors from further afield came to the first Open Day in the Buriton Chalk Pits on Saturday 7th May. There was a range of activities for all age groups - enhanced by perfect weather conditions.
Pictures from the day are featured below and highlights of the event included:
- professional storyteller, Mike O'Leary, enthralled everyone with his tales of life as a local quarryman
- art activities along the woodland path with Francesca Concannon
- self-guided 'Chalk Pits Explorer' family quizzes
- hands-on chalk activities with Tim Concannon
- guided walks with local history coordinator Doug Jones and EHDC ecologist Martin Healey
- and 'moth man' Phillip Budd showed a wide range of moths and bugs that had been caught overnight - including the 'highlight of the day': an example of the extremely rare Cheese Snail.
Visitors, including members of the South Downs National Park Authority, were fascinated by the history and natural history of the site as well as being impressed by the range of activities arranged by the organisers.
?What a wonderful day - and what a fantastic resource on our doorstep?
?Thank you for the time and effort everyone has put in to make this such a special place.?
New leaflets and maps of the site were launched at the Open Day which was arranged as part of the Parish Council's 'Chalk Pits' project.
The project was started in 2007 and was awarded a major grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2010 to fund enhancement works, education and awareness. For more details of the project, click here: http://buriton.info/buriton_chalk_pits
