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Region takes up the London 2012 Open Weekend Challenge

22 July 2010

Hundreds of people from across the South West are getting on their bikes, putting on their walking shoes or getting creative this weekend to mark the two-year countdown to the start of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The annual Open Weekend activities marking the countdown to 2012 get underway across the UK on Friday, 23 July and will finish on Sunday.

From discovering bats in Gloucestershire to walking the Ridgeway in Dorset, people are responding to this year’s Open Weekend theme – ‘challenge yourself’.

In Bath, they will try measuring the great Roman bath – in Roman measurments – while in Taunton they will be creating and performing in the Westival at Taunton.

Full national & regional listings can be found at www.london2012.com/openweekend

Eighteen leisure centres across Cornwall have issued the challenge: “Be active for a minimum of 2,012 seconds or 34 minutes”. Georgina Harland, who won a bronze medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games in modern pentathlon – will be at Saltash Leisure Centre, Cornwall, on Friday to launch the county’s 2,012 second Activity Challenge.

Georgina said: “I’m really proud to be supporting the London 2012 Open Weekend here in the South West. The Open Weekend is all about providing people of all ages, races and backgrounds the chance to share the excitement and fun of the 2012 games. Open Weekend gives everyone a chance to challenge themselves and try something new or achieve a new personal best. I got into sport by trying out something new and having a go, so I'd encourage others to do the same. I get so much enjoyment from sport and it's great to see others inspired in the same way. I know exactly how they feel!”

Seb Coe, Chair of London 2012, said: “Organisations have set public challenges at their events, creating an opportunity for everyone across the UK to set a new personal best by trying something new or taking an existing interest to the next level.

“Open Weekend leads the nation into the two-year countdown to the start of the London 2012 Games and is another opportunity for thousands of people to join in with Games.”

Team South West, the partnership of regional organisations which are ensuring that South West England makes the most of opportunities relating to the Games, is led by the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency).

Paul Harris of the Agency, said: "Open Weekend is just one way for our communities to be part of the excitement and build-up to the London 2012 Games and we are delighted to see so many people taking part this year.

“The Team South West partnership is working hard to ensure the region makes the most of every opportunity – ranging from business contracts to volunteering during Games time – to benefit from London 2012 "

With the support of BP, Premier Partner of the Cultural Olympiad and long-standing supporter of arts and culture in the UK, Open Weekend takes place each year until the start of the London 2012 Games.

For further information, please contact

South West RDA - Pat Murray, Corporate Communications, on 07733264756

Ends

Notes to editors

Please find below some highlights of activities in South West England

Cornwall

Cornwall Council

Cornwall 2,012 second Activity Challenge

7/23/2010 - 7/25/2010

Challenges can take place during each individual leisure centre opening hours

We challenge the public to Be active and do something extra over the Challenge Weekend by going to your local participating leisure centre for a minimum of 2,012 seconds or 34 minutes. All entrants will be entered into a County draw to win a mountain bike. Be active and do something extra over the Challenge Weekend by going to your local participating leisure centre for a minimum of 2,012 seconds or 34 minutes. All entrants will be entered into a County draw to win a mountain bike. Participants in the Cornwall 2012 Physical Activity Challenge can go to any participating Leisure Centre in Cornwall and participate in any activity they choose. Challenge participants can then register their activity so long as it lasts at least 2,012 seconds, or 34 minutes.

After completing your challenge complete the Cornwall 2012 activity registration form and hand in to the reception at the Leisure Centre to claim your 'buy one, get one free' swim voucher. Your registration form will also be put into a County prize draw to win a bike. Children participants will also receive a free certificate of participation. The personal challenge activities must take place over the weekend. Activities taking place at a Leisure Centre will be charged at the normal price. Participants do not need to pre-register. Just go to the Leisure Centre reception and ask for a registration form. Ticket Information: Open access, no pre-booking required

 

Participating Leisure Centres:

 

Natural England

Goonhilly Eco-Trail Day

7/25/2010

Sunday 25th July Goonhilly Downs National Nature Reserve

11:00 -15:00

We challenge the public to Take part in the eco-trail challenge set around the new easy access path. Completing activities on the wildlife and history of this amazing site to earn bug stamps. With a full set of stamps you can enter our competition!

Join us on the amazing Goonhilly Downs National Nature Reserve under the watchful eye of the Satellite Station on The Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall. Let us bring the inhabitants and history of the heathland to life with our Eco-Trail Challenge. Test your powers of observation and creativity whilst learning about the diverse wildlife that thrives in this special environment. Be inspired by the history of the land and why it is so important to protect it. With plant bingo, making your own paint brush, painting using natural inks, a bird diner and living history you will have a brilliant day of discovery and adventure around the heath and the historical Ministry of Defence Second World War buildings. On completion of the trail and the challenges you will receive a certificate, a badge and the chance to win a brilliant ‘Make it Wild’ book with lots of exciting ideas and cool projects to do in the outdoors. This is also the opening of the new easy access path providing wheelchair and buggy access allowing everyone to enjoy the incredible wild heath area that characterises the Lizard Peninsula. The trail will be open and activities available from 11am until 3pm, suitable for families with children. No need to book, just drop in and have a go! All children need to be accompanied by an adult at all times. Parking is free and toilets are provided.

Natural England

The Lizard NNR

Higher Bochym Rural Workshops

Cury Cross Lanes

Helston

Cornwall, TR12 7AZ

www.naturalengland.org.uk

Ticket Information: Free, just turn up

 

Devon

Natural England

Wild Orienteering

7/24/2010 - 7/24/2010

10am - 12noon

We challenge the public to Discover the wild side of East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve through an orienteering challenge!

Get active and explore the wilder side of East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve. Pick up an orienteering map, work out your route and find your way. Suitable for the whole family. Everyone gets a certificate for taking part.

For more details call 01626 832330

East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve, Yarner Wood, Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9LJ, TQ13 9LJ

www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation

Ticket Information: Free

 

Landance

Borders, Landance 2010 at Woodbury Castle

7/24/2010 - 7/25/2010

Saturday 24th July at 7pm

Sunday 25th July at 6pm

We challenge you to try a truly unique dance performance experience at the ancient hill fort site of Woodbury castle, surrounded by vast expanses of heathland with distant views of the sea, to take time to savour this site, seeing it with new eyes, experiencing the different atmospheres and trusting the performers to entertain you in a way that only live performance can.

Borders, landance 2010

Come and see a contemporary dance perf0rmance at the amazing ancient hill fort site of woodbury castle free.

This will be a truly unique experience at an iron age hill fort, surrounded by vast expanses of heathland with distant views of the sea. We challenge you to take time to savour this site, seeing it with new eyes, experiencing the different atmospheres and trusting the performers to entertain you in a way that only live performance can. We will lead you through the site, while feasting your eyes and ears with Dance, Music and Visual Art. These unique contemporary dance performances involve performers of all ages from the local community, who have created them alongside professionals from Dance, Music and Visual Art and Design.

Performance Dates:

Saturday 24th July, 7pm at Woodbury Castle

Sunday 25th July, 6pm at Woodbury Castle

Admission free, refreshments and programmes on sale.

Promenade performances, please wear sensible footwear.

The performances will take place in the landscape at Woodbury Castle,

OS map ref: SY 032 873 , near EX5 1JJ, on the B3180 between the Halfway Inn and Exmouth.

Made possible with funding from Dance in Devon and the East Devon AONB.

For further information please visit our website at www.landance.org.uk Woodbury Castle lies on ancient geological formations called the pebblebeds, formed in the Triassic Age, see www.pebblebedheaths.org.uk It has distant views of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, see www.jurassiccoast.com 

Gilletts farm

Yarcombe

Honiton

Devon, EX14 9AZ

www.landance.org.uk

Ticket Information: FREE

 

Dorset

SHERBORNE MUSEUM, Dorset

WALKING TREASURE HUNT

7/23/2010 - 7/25/2010

Call at the museum for your treasure hunt clue sheet 10.30 - 4.30 on 23rd and 24th July

We challenge the public to find out more about their historic and natural environment

How much do you know about your town? Come and find out more and take part in our fun Walking Treasure Hunt. Collect bonus points along the way! Look out for special architectural features, historic buildings and natural features that you may not have noticed before. Bring your friends and why not finish with a picnic

Sherborne Museum, Abbey Gate House, Church Lane, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3 BP

www.sherbornemuseum.co.uk

Ticket Information: 01935 812252

 

Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Ridgeway Charity Challenge

7/25/2010

Bus collect from Dorchester Park and Ride - 8am

Bus collect from bus stop K7 on Weymouth Esplanade - 8.20am

Event Start - 9am

We challenge the public to Walk or run either 17 or 7 miles

Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is teaming up with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to launch the first Ridgeway Charity Challenge this July. Participants will take in the breathtaking views of Dorset's countryside and the sea by either walking or running along the South Dorset Ridgeway to raise vital funds for BHF, to help in its fight against heart disease.

The event will take place on Sunday 25 July with walkers and runners setting off at 9am from The Smugglers Inn at Osmington Mills. There are two options of distance. The 7 mile option follows the Ridgeway and South West Coast path through Osmington, over the White Horse, through Bincombe and ends at Goulds Hill. The 17 mile route then continues following the Ridgeway to Hardys Monument, above Abbotsbury and finishes at the Blue Anchor Cafe in West Bexington. Entry for the Ridgeway Charity Challenge is £5 with a £10 minimum sponsorship for adults, registration is free for children. To help the fight against heart disease, please do your best to support this event. All money raised from the event will support the BHF in its fight against heart and circulatory disease. A bus will run from Dorchester Football Park and Ride and from Weymouth Esplanade to the start, and will drop participants back after they have finished as parking is extremely limited. Dogs are welcome. To register, call Leah on 01892 893918 for a registration form.

Start:

The Smugglers Inn,

Osmington Mills,

Dorset,

DT3 6HF

http://www.tra-uk.org/ridgeway_challenge.php

Ticket Information: Entry fee £5. Minimum sponsorship £10.

 

Natural England

Reserve: Your Space

7/25/2010 - 7/25/2010

11.00 - 16.00

We challenge the public to Get outside, get to know Stoborough Heath and Hartland Moor National Nature Reserves and get involved with conserving these unique places and their wildlife.

Get along to Stoborough Heath National Nature Reserve on Sunday 25th July, between 11.00 and 16.00.

Get to know this amazing place and nearby Hartland Moor National Nature Reserve, both home to some of the UK's rarest wildlife. Meet the people who manage the Reserves and can help you learn more about the landscape and the different species found here. Get out and explore this natural space; take part in a treasure hunt, wildlife walks, or take the time to walk along the marked trails. There will be something for everyone.

Get your ideas across; what would make a visit to the reserves more enjoyable? What signs and seating would you like to see here? What changes would make the reserve more accessible for you and others?

Get involved: why not find out more about that bit of volunteering you always meant to do? You donate you need to have hours to spare! You could join the Green Team on practical conservation tasks, find a Walk For Health group near you or become an outreach volunteer and help to get the message out there; everyone can do something to help tackle biodiversity loss and help conserve this unique place, so pass it on! Whatever your age, come along and find out how Stoborough Heath and Hartland Moor National Nature Reserves can become 'Your Space'. There's no need to book - this National Nature Reserve on your doorstep is ready and waiting for you! Slepe Farm, Arne, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5BN www.naturalengland.org.uk Ticket Information: No tickets/booking required

 

Somerset

The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre

Westival

7/23/2010 - 7/25/2010

Friday 23rd: 10am - 11.30pm

Saturday 24th: 10am - 11pm

Sunday 25th: 10am - 9.30pm

 

We challenge the public to Get involved and transform and animate the cultural heart of Taunton with arts and entertainment celebrating the creativity of the community

Something's Brewing in Taunton...Will you accept the challenge, and join in this exciting weekend taking place outside The Brewhouse? There are plenty of opportunities to take part as The Brewhouse join forces with Somerset's renowned and innovative participatory arts company Actiontrack, who will be running open workshops throughout the weekend - your chance to get creative!

Westival is an eclectic weekend of live music, visual art, comedy, workshops, film, Shakespeare and street theatre. Established national artists, from Simon Callow to Red Shift Theatre Company, join local creative organisations and the people of Somerset to celebrate the creativity of the South West. Other Westival highlights include: Taunton based Live'N'Up, a community interest company providing opportunities for young musicians; local jazz legends The Tone Valley Jazz Band; award winning Taunton Concert Band; community choirs Apple County Chorus and Somerset Hills; and acclaimed singer-songwriter Julie Dunn. With comedy from Del Strain, theatre from Yellowtale Theatre Company there's plenty for the whole family to enjoy.

So we challenge you to join in, try something new and make your mark. Create it, perform it, watch it, however you do it - be part of it! The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre, Coal Orchard, Taunton

Somerset, TA1 1JL www.thebrewhouse.net Ticket Information: 01823 283244

 

Bath

Roman Baths challenge - Bath; build a Roman arch, measure the Great Bath using Roman measurements and match the Latin names of countries to our map of the Roman world.

 

Gloucestershire

South Gloucestershire Council

Bat Discovery Night

7/23/2010 - 7/23/2010

9pm to 10.30pm

We challenge the public to become wildlife detectives and discover how many bats they can detect

Have you experienced the magic out walking through a wood at dusk and coming across a bat as it darts around the twilight sky in search of its supper?

South Gloucestershire Council have developed four award winning Bat Audio Trails across South Gloucestershire, enabling local people to discover and find out about bats and other wildlife on their doorstep.

You'll have an unforgettable experience during this special evening to go bat detecting at our nature reserve in Wick South Gloucestershire.

With help from members of the Friends of Wick Golden Valley and Avon Bat Group you'll be able to use a bat detector and search for bats in the reserve.

It's an amazing activity that gets you really close to nature that's great for families.

The event is taking place at Wick Golden Valley Local Nature Reserve, a hidden gem close to Bristol and Bath. The site holds a Green Flag Award for its good management practices and recently won an innovation award for its Bat Audio Trail.

Recent bat surveys show we have eight species of bat on the reserve, including the endangered lesser and greater horseshoe bats. There's also the daubenton bat which picks up insects over the water using its hairy feet!

The site is managed by South Gloucestershire Council, the Friends of Wick Golden Valley and Cemex, the landowners. The site benefits from grants from DEFRA's Aggegates Levy Sustainability Fund, managed by Natural England, which has helped improve access for wheelchair users and families with pushchairs and has also funded the Bat Audio Trails.

So come and discover the magic of bat detecting at this beautiful nature reserve. Meet at Wick Village Hall car park on A420 ready to leave for the reserve at 9pm and returning at 10.30pm. (Postcode for car park is BS30 5RG).

Wick Village Hall, High Street, Wick, South Gloucestershire (on A420), BS30 5RG

www.southglos.gov.uk/bataudiotrail

Ticket Information: For further infromation please call 01454 863581.