Lincolnshire Heritage Open Days Festival 2020: Here's the latest on the event

More details have been announced about the upcoming Lincolnshire Heritage Open Days Festival.

The charity Heritage Lincolnshire is thrilled to be able to run the event from September 11-20 with a theme of ‘The Past and Pastimes - the Heritage of Lincolnshire’s Leisure.’

This year, the festival will look a bit different as the team adapts events to make them safe for visitors, volunteers and event organisers.

For the first time, the programme will comprise a mix of in-person and digital events. Communities will be able to celebrate the stories of the places and spaces that are important to them while staying safe and adhering to current social distancing measures.

Tours of historic buildings which are rarely open to the public are already filling up fast, so people are urged to head to the Heritage Lincolnshire website to plan their days out.

Among those open this year will include the Victorian Holbeach Cemetery Chapels and the ROC Post at Holbeach (a Cold War bunker). Heckington Windmill will be open, as will Baldocks Mill and Heritage Centre in Bourne.

There will also be locations to visit further afield either in person or via a virtual tour from your mobile phone or other device.

You can download a brochure with full details of all the events taking place here.

Hannah Thompson, Business Manager of the charity Heritage Lincolnshire, said: “2020 so far has been filled with so much uncertainty but we are so proud that we have been able to continue with some great events that really showcase the amazing heritage places and organisations we have within our county.

"Now more than ever we need to remind people about Lincolnshire and support our county, whether that be in person or online.

"We cannot wait to see how 2020’s Heritage Open Days will change the festival for future years, and how we can use this to engage more people and bring new types of events. But for this year, we are encouraging people to get involved as much as they can.”

Charlotte Davey, who co-ordinates the festival with volunteer Ray Knight, both also from Heritage Lincolnshire, said: “After the stress and uncertainty posed by the virus in the last few months, I believe the festival will mean more than ever to those taking part and those visiting.

"This is such a wonderful opportunity for members of the public to engage with their local heritage, experiencing and learning from the fantastic events on offer. The fact that many of the events are digital will also be hugely meaningful to those who are still shielding, or who can’t get out yet to visit in person.”