NEWS

All the latest news and notices from across English Heritage.

Volunteers in 2019 being part of the solution, not the pollution.

PICKING UP THE VOLUNTEER SPIRIT

Volunteers at Derwentcote Steel Furnace have been fi ghting dirty to make their site car park clean and welcoming.

With the support of Durham County Council, English Heritage volunteers were able to run a litter pick at Derwentcote Steel Furnace car park – removing plastic bottles, sweet wrappers, buckets and even a garden chair.

Derwentcote car park boasts a beautiful meadow and picnic area; it is now the ideal place to enjoy lunch following a visit to Derwentcote Steel Furnace.

English Heritage Monitor Volunteers will continue the hard work of our litter picking group to ensure the car park retains its new condition.

SHARE YOUR NEWS We’d love to hear from you by email at volunteerfocus@english-heritage.org.uk

Some of the volunteers shaping the wood using Neolithic tools © Russell Sach

Stonehenge team shortlisted for award

Following a carpentry course where volunteers learnt to use Neolithic tools, we decided to make a wooden sledge to move a four-tonne stone. Volunteers split tree trunks with wooden wedges and mallets, and shaped mortise and tenon joints using bone chisels, fl int axes and adzes. During Easter 2020, we invited visitors to pull the fi nished sledge – 80 to 100 people were needed to move it. We ran it on halved and quartered logs, uphill, downhill, around corners and in circles. Finally, we took it off the rails and pulled it on grass – we were amazed at how well it went, and it made us rethink how the stones may have been moved. Visitors went away having had a unique experience, and our team was shortlisted for the Museums and Heritage Awards 2020.

Get 10% OFF at English Heritage shops and cafés with your pass or quote code VT467 to receive the discount in our online shop.

The book-folding team at Wrest Park.

A book-folding tale at Wrest Park

In 2019 the Wrest Park volunteer team trialled the launch of a secondhand bookshop. The bookshop opened in July 2019 and donations came fl ooding in. The success of the project meant that donations were many and couldn’t all be housed or sold, so an idea was hatched to start crafting some items to decorate the space. A book-folding group was started and its members met to create seasonal items including pumpkins, candles and Valentine’s gifts. The group not only helped raise funds but also became a way of getting different volunteers together for a chat. Due to Covid-19 volunteers together for a chat. Due to Covid-19 we haven’t been able to meet since last year so instead we have started Zoom workshops. Volunteers from all the teams are involved and have appreciated getting to know each other more and learning new skills.

VOLUNTEERS OFFER A HELPING PAW

We are delighted to announce new volunteer programmes at our sites and properties in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Whether you would like to lead spotlight talks, meet and greet our many visitors or help care for our monuments, there’s a role in Berwick for you.

And, with nine volunteers having already been inducted, there’s no better time to join the friendly team.

Even some of our four-legged friends have been lending a paw to help keep the ramparts looking their best. Find out more at:

www.english-heritage.org.uk/ visit/places/berwick-upon-tweedbarracks-and-main-guard

Get 10% OFF your stay at an English Heritage holiday cottage. Use discount code EHTVOL10 when you book online or call 0370 333 1187.

Two new additions to the Berwick-Upon-Tweed volunteering team. Volunteer Pass

DON’T FORGET

Your volunteer pass allows FREE ENTRY for you plus one adult to all English Heritage managed properties. To book your visit online quote code EHT2021.

Present your volunteer pass to get 10% OFF at English Heritage shops and cafés. Quote code VT467 to receive the discount in our online shop.