Updates from Sarah Perry, Saltscape Community Engagement Trainee
What a fantastic success Heritage Open Day turned out to be on the 12th September 2015!
I spent the day running about (with the other Saltscape staff!) between 5 exciting heritage sites across the Northwich area which opened their doors for free and put on an array of activities, talks and tours for the public to enjoy.
In the lead up to the event I mastered the art of juggling 20 things at once and successfully recruited and trained 14 volunteers whilst collating and organising comprehensive event packs, maps and promotional materials for the day. We all had an early start on the 12th setting up the activities, show stands, transport points and fixing all the “surprises” that crop up last minute to test us. My first point of call was Marbury Country Park where I hid my newly made scavenger hunt so well that no one could find all the markers, including me at the end of the day! It was fantastic being there so early, listening to the dawn chorus as the sun burnt off the mist. I’ve resolved to do that more often, Heritage Day or no Heritage Day!
The event saw 1000 people descend on the newly refurbished Lion Salt Works to experience life by the boiling pan, along with over 250 people enrolling themselves at Weaver Hall Museum & Work House for an afternoon. The town centre was heaving with artisan market goers who enjoyed the Victorian themed entertainment on offer. Northwich Library and the Plaza Cinema held special exhibitions which over 400 people experienced and Anderton Boat Lift was alive with staff dressed to impress straight out of the 1800s.
I’m pleased to say there were no major, or even minor, hiccups on the day and the event went off without a hitch thanks to the hard work of all the different teams and volunteers involved!