Bat Walk with drink & nibbles

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Date: 21st August 2025
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: Winterbourne Medieval Barn
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Join us for an evening guided walk (around 1.5 hrs) with naturalist Ed Drewitt followed by a drink and nibbles at the Barn.Dusk in late summer is a great time for looking for bats such as pipistrelles feeding along the local pathways and nature reserve. Ed will be on hand with a bat detector to 'hear' the bats echolocating. We'll also be listening for any birdsong in a dusk chorus and perhaps the hoot of a tawny owl as sunset approaches.

Ed Drewitt is no stranger to wildlife and over the past 20 years has been showing people flora and fauna and helping them to spot and identify different species. Ed is a freelance naturalist and works across the west showing people wildlife. He is based in the Forest of Dean which he shares with wild board, deer and many different types of birds.

What to bring: outdoor footwear, suitable outdoor clothing , binoculars (not essential as it will be dusk).

You will set off from the Barn at 8pm for an hour and a half walk, followed by a drink from the bar and nibbles. 

The drink from the bar is your choice of a juice carton, tea, coffee, small glass of wine, beer or cider (alcoholic options are strictly for over 18s only).

£20 per person, including a drink and nibbles. Please inform of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Recommended for ages 12+

Please note parking for this event is at the Barn, BS36 1SE
The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site.

If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

Book here

Spring Open Day

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Date: 27th April 2025
Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Winterbourne Medieval Barn
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Have a sneak peak inside our beautiful heritage site...FOR FREE!
Come on in to find out the history of this beautiful barn and admire original medieval timbers. Hear the story of how it was all almost lost in the 1980s, then saved by local supporters in the 1990s and how it is used today!
The Barn is normally only open for ticketed events, so this is a great change to explore this Grade II* listed building...and maybe find out what else is on for you to come and visit us again.

We are delighted that regular Barn performers, Bygonz wandering minstrels, will be providing music for visitors during our Spring Open Day.
They always create such a special atmosphere in our main barn with their medieval-style music and we are really looking forward to having them back.

WE NEED YOU: HISTORY CALLOUT!
We would love to find out more about the modern history of The Barn and how it has been seen / used by the local community. As part of our research into the History of the Barn and its use, both recent and medieval,  we would love to hear about any memories or stories of the site during this time.
Do you remember what was growing in the fields around WW2? 
Did you grow up in and around Winterbourne and have any stories to share about the site? 
Do you have memories of playing in The Barn when it was unoccupied, or perhaps remember it as a working farm and can remember where things were stored or what was going in and out of The Barn? 
Do you have any photos of the site before it was renovated, or perhaps of some of our early events? 
We would love to hear from you! 
Some of our friendly volunteers will be collecting any stories / copies of photographs / recording any items you would like to share during the Open Day. The aim is to help fill in some of the missing history about The Barn, so we would love it if you would like to come and be involved.
If you can't make it to the open day, but would still like to share your story with us, then please email it to us at contact@winterbournebarn.org.uk

About Winterbourne Medieval Barn
Winterbourne Medieval Barn, built in 1342, is a unique surviving example of a great medieval Barn built by a gentry family. Constructed using green timber methods, cutting edge technology for the time, it has been described as a magnificent example of the builders craft. Come and look around this beautiful building, set in rural South Gloucestershire, just outside Bristol.

The Main Barn will be open for you to look around at your leisure with some of our volunteer tour guides on hand to answer any questions you have about our beautiful site.

Our pop up café will also be open serving a small selection of drinks and snacks. Cash and card payments are accepted,

Why not combine your visit with a trip to St Michael’s Church next door? The tower, as well as the church, will be open for people to find out about bellringing. Opening times are subject to change so please check with them in advance if you are arranging a visit especially. We’re also located next to Monks Pool Nature Reserve which makes The Barn an ideal starting point for exploring the local landscape.

We will be open from 1pm – 4pm. Please arrive at any time within this time slot and stay for as long, or little as you like.

Look out for the brown signs on Winterbourne High Street to direct you to The Barn.
Limited car parking is available onsite. We have plenty of cycle parking for those travelling by bike. The Barn is a short ten minute walk from Winterbourne High Street.

Please note parking for this event will be on site at the Barn, BS36 1SE.

Any donations kindly given at this event are used go towards our fundraising for WMBT to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site.

Book here

Foraging walk with Steve England

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Date: 13th April 2025
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Winterbourne Medieval Barn
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Join Steve England, outdoor educator, Horticulturist and Historian, on this guided walk around the barn site and local nature reserve to forage for wild foods! This will be a small group so that you can benefit from Steve's guidance and expertise on what to pick...and what not!
This walk will very much be determined by what is found along the way and so is likely to be different every time.
Due to the nature of this event the end time is approximate and can ​vary depending on what is discovered on the day.

Please make sure you dress sensibly in comfortable, suitable clothing and wear sturdy footwear. 

Due to the foraging nature of this walk it is for over 18s only. 

After approximately 3 hours out with Steve you will return to The Barn for tea & coffee and to make a tasty snack from your finds. 
The Barn will be open on arrival, and after your walk, for use of the facilities and to check everyone in.

About your guide:  "All my life I have loved the outdoors. Growing up in Bristol, my childhood was spent exploring the fields and woodlands of Stoke Park, fascinated by every tree, plant, bird & butterfly. I decided to continue my learning with the RHS, studying horticulture alongside teaching myself everything there was to know about the wildlife and history on my doorstep. I began teaching what I had learned over 10 years ago to friends, local people and my local community, and absolutely love sharing everything I know. Whether foraging foods, learning poisonous plants, lighting fires, recognising birds, identifying bats or looking back in time at the history of North Bristol, I come alive when in front of an audience and thrive on sharing my knowledge with others."
Steve England Outdoor Learning provides outdoor adult education events, courses and workshops within North Bristol.

Please note parking for this event will be on site at the Barn, BS36 1SE. The car park will be locked once the event has finished so please ensure your car is moved if you will be exploring the local area after your visit to The Barn.

The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site.

If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

Book here