Storytellers, entertainers, archaeological and wildlife experts will all be at Golden Hill Country Park today (Sunday).
As exclusively reported by Isle of Wight Radio, a willow maze has also been installed and commissioned, which is one of two in the whole of the UK and has already proved popular with Islanders.
The 'special event' marks the 50th ‘Golden’ anniversary of the park’s creation and 150 years since the fort itself was built.
Today is a chance for families to enjoy a day out on one of the Island’s best, open access countryside sites, with its wide-open spaces, stunning views across the Solent and fascinating heritage.
Alongside the heritage discoveries, the Island’s environmental charity, Gift to Nature has been busy developing the site for the benefit of both people and wildlife, including planting a new community orchard.
Vanessa Langley, is the charity's Project Coordinator, told Isle of Wight Radio:
"On the 27th of this month at Golden Hill Country Park in Freshwater we are having a very special open day, which we have been working on for two years now, because of COVID it's taken longer.
"Basically we are inviting people to come and see what we have been up to including all the heritage work, the wildlife trails and of course our very special willow maze installation... It is made from local willow, from Afton Marsh and it comes out the ground and twists and turns. It's not a massive structure but the children love it and so does everybody, it has brought the heart back to the park that we wanted. "
Thanks to money secured from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the charity has been able to study the sites military history, which has been recorded by a team of archaeological volunteers led by Dr Ruth Waller.
Vanessa added:
"The site has been a little bit unloved and when Gift To Nature took the management of it we thought how can we bring this park back to life? One of the very interesting things is the site has a lot of military history and World War One heritage and we have been able to reveal and research all the buildings around the park which you can all see.
"We wanted to improve the access for people, manage it more for wildlife, Nick and Ed our rangers have been working really hard. We have orchids too which is a delight to see."
Created to echo the original fort structure and using local materials, willow artist Eddie Glew has built this spectacular addition that gives the park a unique attraction.
Watch a video of the maze below...
Find out more about the event, which starts at 12pm here.
Isle Of Wight Radio Child Of Wight Awards 2024 Nominations Now Open
Fire Service Issues Water Safety And Mud Rescue Advice For Isle Of Wight
New Online Cancer Support For Local Residents
Specialist Monitoring Equipment Now Installed At Leeson Road
West Wight Runner Jackie Follows PB Marathon Run With Eastenders Appearance
West Wight Pub Can Now Be Listed As 'Asset Of Community Value'
Royal Navy 'Bomb Squad' Called To Seaview Following Ordnance Alert
Automated Gates Arrive On Wightlink’s FastCat Foot Passenger Route
Help Keep Isle Of Wight Streets Neat – Bring Your Bin In
Two Passengers Injured Following Bus Crash In Ryde
Late Night Reports Of Collision Spark Extensive Land, Sea And Air Search
Islanders Taking On London Marathon Today For Local Charities
Four Men Arrested Following Rogue Trader Activities In East Cowes
Rugby Players Set To Scale Great Heights For Teddy
Drug Driving, Domestic Abuse And Stalking Among Arrests Made As Police Target Isle Of Wight Criminals
Work Begins On ‘Monumental’ Mural Project At Historic Columbine Building
More Acts Added To Isle Of Wight Festival Line-Up
St Mary’s Vaccination Hub Gets Ready For Spring Covid-19 Vaccinations
Twenty Isle Of Wight Pubs Under Threat As Stonegate Issues Profit Warning
Fundraiser Launched As Kezi's Kindness Founder Diagnosed With Incurable Cancer
