Note : there is a picnic event after this CITO at 1130-1230. See separate event GCA9W94.
This CITO is in support of the National Trust (NT) to refresh the chalk on the Uffington White Horse. It takes place on Sunday 27th August. The NT are doing several days of chalking this year, but this CITO is only on the Sunday. It is always an enjoyable activity and you are playing a part in maintaining a 3,000 year old national monument. You can see the difference afterwards.
The NT will be holding the following activities at Uffinton White Horse and would welcome help at any of them. No booking is needed:
- Scouring the horse (weed pulling) will be Sat 22nd July and Sunday 23rd July (both from 1000-1600)
- Chalking the horse will be Sunday 27th August and Bank Holiday Monday 28th August (all from 1000-1600)
The work on the White Horse is being organised by the NT. No booking is necessary, you can just turn up. We will be supporting them 10.00 - 11.30 on Sunday 27th August to help get the event off to a good start. You can arrive at any time during 10.00 - 11.30, it is better if people stagger their start times (there can be queues due to the volume of volunteers at any time). I suggest you plan to work up to 30 minutes (any longer risks repetitive strain - I can vouch for this). Please keep an eye on any queue at the start point so that everyone gets a turn.
The National Trust will provide equipment, safety instructions and guidance at the sign-up point. In short, this involves sitting next to the White Horse and using a lump hammer to break fresh lumps of chalk and pound them into the White Horse surface (see photo).
Please wear suitable clothes and shoes for climbing the slopes of the white horse which you don’t mind getting dirty, and which will give you some grip on a slippery steep slope. I strongly recommend using gloves when using the hammer repeatedly (these are provided or you can bring your own). You can work at your own pace and there is usually an opportunity to chat to other cachers before, during and afterwards.
There are no facilities such as water, food or toilets. There is a charge by the NT for car parking (free for National Trust members with their membership card). There is often an ice cream van in the car park when the weather is good. There is a 10-15 minute uphill walk from the car park to the white horse / event coordinates.
I recommend that you bring water (and sandwiches if required) in a backpack up to the event. If the weather is good then it is a lovely location for a picnic. I recommend suncream. It is on the top of the hill so exposed to the wind and rain. There are a good selection of other caches nearby including two of mine from September 2002 and May 2004.
If the weather conditions are bad then this event may be cancelled. If so, I’ll make an announcement on this page as soon as I get this information. To receive announcements via email, make sure you have logged a “will attend”.