Hepple in Focus: Summer Flowers

Join us for a plant-focused tour of our wilding project. The hills around the Hepple Estate have been gently managed for wildlife and farming for decades but since 2020 we have changed gear and are now fully focused on building ecosystem health and encouraging biodiversity. Since 2024 we have been starting to open our world up for small groups to come and see what we have been up to - and we'd love for you to join us.

At a glance

• A day focused on Hepple's plantlife with identification tips and tricks
  
• Arrive for a 10:30 start, finishing around 3:30pm with lunch included
• Guided walk around the estate looking to see and identify as many plants as we can, while getting to grips with ID on some groups 
• Some uneven ground and variable weather conditions may apply!

Stonecrop ID with guidebooks at the ready - Chris Woodcock / White Oak Photos

Event Overview

The day will include a short introduction to the estate and our ethos, before a talk on some of the plant groups that call the Hepple Estate home and the work that we are doing to encourage these and attract more. Following this we will take a 3hr-4hr professionally guided walk of the estate with numerous breaks for spotting and identifying plants. This will include ID of flowers, trees, grasses and sedges and will largely be to a beginner or intermediate level. A simple lunch is included and, weather allowing, will be taken outside to enjoy on the estate. Our walks are intended to be interactive and immersive with our expert guide Richard showing you the best of what Hepple has to offer. 

Bog myrtle in leaf across the estate

As spring and summer progress on the estate, a whole variety of wildflowers and interesting plants pop up across the estate. The heathers, of which we have three kinds on the estate, are abundant and intermingle with billberry and bog myrtle. We have at least three species of orchid to be found amongst the grasses, while the carnivorous sundew can be found within our bog habitats, surrounded by sedges. The closer you look, the more you will find.

Your Guide

This event will be led by our in-house Ecologist & Guide, Richard Thompson. Richard grew up spotting birds and roaming the hills around Hepple before heading to Scotland where he gained a master's degree in Conservation and worked as nature-guide in the Scottish Highlands. After returning to his Northumberland roots Richard worked as a professional ecologist & ornithologist before joining the team here at Hepple. Richard is outdoor first-aid trained and is a Hill & Moorland Leader, a qualification that focuses on group management and upland navigation. When not leading our events, Richard can be found conducting various monitoring jobs across the estate including bird, plant and fungi surveys.

Richard, Hepple Guide - Cal Thompson / This is Northumberland

Additional Information

Please note that this event includes periods of rough walking. Please come prepared.

We would strongly encourage bringing:

• Sturdy boots or comfortable wellies
• Binoculars
• Backpack with water bottle
• A warm/waterproof coat or jacket
• Waterproof trousers if it's forecast for rain

If you can leave them in the car so much the better! The weather in the Upper Coquet valley can be very changeable so please come prepared for anything. While we will aim to head out whatever the weather, if the forecast ahead of the event does look especially awful or hazardous, we will contact you to offer a full refund or a booking on an alternative date.

If you need to cancel your booking we can offer a full refund/rebooking to guests up to two weeks before the event. After this time we may not be able to offer you a refund but will aim to do so if we can resell your ticket. If Hepple Wilds need to cancel the event for any reason, we will offer a full refund or reschedule the event.

Unfortunately this event is not currently accessible for wheelchair users or those with physical disabilities that may prevent them from prolonged walking in the outdoors over rough terrain. As we progress with our nature engagement plans, we aim to be able to host more accessible experiences.

In addition, this event is not dog friendly. We may be able to host pooches on our private/bespoke days, with prior arrangement.

On booking you should be asked about your dietary requirements and any special interests you might have. Please get in touch if you think we need to know anything else.

We look forward to welcoming you to our home and to the beautiful Hepple Wilds.

Wet heath on site