White’s Eco Light Festival

Discover a brand-new magical experience this winter, with White’s Eco Light Festival.

Delve into the story of Gilbert White, discover our collections in a whole new light, and unlock your passion and an excitement for wildlife and the natural world around us. Journey through the house and gardens as we open the pages of The Natural History of Selborne and bring your imagination to life, learning more about the creatures which 18th century naturalist White identified, and how we can protect them today. Prepare to discover the plight of the harvest mouse, the noctule bat, follow the mesmerising journey of swifts and swallows, and then head out into the starry night to be enchanted by a mystical world of captivating light installations in a unique light trail.
This is a Light Festival with a difference – we will be using renewable energy sources, solar power and low-level lighting with environmental consciousness at its core, remembering Gilbert White and his internationally important legacy to ecology. Fun for all the family, this is a chance to make new memories and discover how you can make changes to help wildlife and the environment around you.

As seen on the BBC News, we were delighted to have been awarded £41,455.48 of funding by East Hampshire District Council’s Rural Grant Scheme to support this ambitious new model of light show. PowerQuad, based at BASE Bordon Innovation Centre are leading the way in cleaner, greener, portable energy, and we are delighted to be working amongst them and Quality Marquees Hire Limited to create this magical new experience.

Dates: Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from Thursday 21st November 2024 – Saturday 21st December 2024.

Times:   16:30-20:00

Price:  £12.50 for adult, £9 for child (child under 2 go free). Pre-booking essential. Tickets will be released on the 24th September.

Venue: Gilbert Whites House and Gardens 

Directions: How to find us

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    Gilbert Whites House

    Gilbert White was aged 7 or 8 when the White family moved from the Vicarage on Selborne’s Plestor, to this house, called ‘The Wakes’ (named after the Wake family who had lived here previously). At that time, the property would have been no more than a ‘two up, two down’ but over subsequent years several extensions and additions have been made, creating the long, sizeable house you see today.

    The rooms have been restored following descriptions in White’s own correspondence and include a chair he used at Oriel College, Oxford (loaned from the College), items of contemporary furniture, family portraits and bed hangings embroidered for him by his aunts.

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