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Left: The new Deepdene Trail near Dorking inspired a school art competitionRight: Portsea Island DFAS was among those that staged an event. Pictured (l-r) Chairman Diana Swann, Charles Harris, Marilyn Harris and Ruth RossOffi cer at Mole Valley District Council, commented: “The NADFAS members bring much to the table: knowledge of the local heritage, links with people and organisations that could be helpful, organisational skills, funding for some events and, perhaps most importantly, ideas.”CHESTER’S CHURCH ROLEFor several years, Chester DFAS Heritage Volunteers have participated in the Heritage Open Day scheme by stewarding at St Mary’s, a medieval church that is not normally open to the public. A board with detailed information on the church is always put up alongside displays about NADFAS nationally and locally, and the work of Heritage Volunteers. “The volunteers enjoy stewarding on Heritage Open Days as they meet people from far and wide who are like them interested in Chester’s history and appreciate the opportunity to see something that is not usually Deepdene image: Mole Valley District Council.available,” said Jo Hinnigan, the Society’s Heritage Volunteers Representative.PORTSEA TAKES CENTRE STAGEPortsea Island DFAS collaborated with The New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth as part of Heritage Open Days – and has seen an uplift in attendance of its autumn season lectures as a result. There were benefi ts for both groups: the Society aimed to attract new members by offering the opportunity to sample the expertise and calibre of a NADFAS-accredited Lecturer, while the theatre was keen to show off restoration work and its new facilities.The idea was supported by the Societies Support Team Fund and Charles Harris was chosen as Lecturer.On the day, Society members ran an information desk with details of the Society and provided refreshments before each of the two 30-minute ‘taster’ lectures.FYLDE’S COMMUNITY LINKSIn Lytham St Anne’s, Lancashire, community groups and Fylde DFAS support the opening of several heritage buildings during the festival, including the Town Hall, providing tours of the building which stores a collection of artwork from local benefactors (now catalogued thanks to the Tagging the Treasures project the Society was involved with). From the fi nal report for the Heritage Lottery Fund, which gave a grant to Tagging the Treasures, the Society wrote: “It is always interesting to talk to visitors and fi nd out what is important to them; this helps to shine a light on other areas that could potentially benefi t from the work of our Society. Heritage Open Days also present opportunities for recruitment drives for members and volunteers, as well as gaining publicity in the local press after the event.” ■HERITAGE OPEN DAYSSeptember 7Ð10, 2017How to get involvedIf your Society would like to organise an event, register at www.heritageopendays.org.uk/organising. The Heritage Open Days team has plenty of assistance available. Registration opens on March 1, 2017.Some ideas:• Invite people to follow your Church Trail during the festival.• If you have Heritage Volunteers at a historic venue, see if an event can be jointly organised to show off the volunteers’ work.• Ask local historic venues, heritage organisations or com-munity groups to see if they are organising any Heritage Open Days events and if your Society can help.• Hold a NADFAS lecture with a heritage theme and invite the public.We look forward to hearing about your Heritage Open Days events and participation!HERITAGE OPEN DAYS www.nadfas.org.uk NADFAS REVIEW / SPRING 2017 39