Organisers Philip (left) of Haines Net and Gareth (right) of Navigate
When: 1st April 2011 from 11.30am – 1pm
Where: The Square, Petersfield
What is it?
The South Downs National Park’s opening event will have celebration singing, the official flag unfurling, bell-ringing across the SDNP starting in Petersfield, a giant map on The Square, a gypsy caravan, canoes, hang-gliders, zorbers, a large Mongolian yurt, and 25 exhibition stands. The event has been organised by a group of volunteers led by Philip Haines, of Haines Net, and Gareth Gammon, of Navigate.
The programme starts at 10am with the opening of a riverside walk in Liss by Margaret Paren (Chair of the SDNP Authority). The focus will then switch to The Square, Petersfield, for the ceremonies beginning with pupils from Petersfield Infant School singing a song at 11.45am.
Exhibitors will include Hampshire Fare; the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust; the SDNP and the South Downs Society; Butser Ancient Farm; the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, near Chichester; the Seven Sisters Canoe Centre in East Sussex; Orb 360; the Ashford Hangers Volunteers; Petworth House; Shipwrights’ Way; South Downs Hang Gliding; the Steyning and District Partnership; Forest Knights Bushcraft; and the Museum, the Round Table, the Food Festival and the Tourist Information Centre from Petersfield.
More info: www.visitpetersfield.com