Just under two weeks until our Eco Light Festival begins! Booking is essential so if you haven't already follow the link to get your tickets! gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/eco-li...

November 7, 1776 – The great fieldfare returns. Beetles abound every evening. Farmer Canning’s new barley-ricks smoke & ferment like hot-beds already.

We are launching a seasonal series of Nature Talks in 2026! These will be online, one for each season of the year with a fabulous speaker. Our Winter Talk is on the 20th January and our speaker will be Dr Kevin Butt, telling all about his fascinating study of the Earthworms in Gilbert's Garden! 🪱

Plant of the week 🌱 The purple crabapple Malus x purpura. Found in the Herb garden.

Yesterday was a special anniversary! On this day in 1758 Gilbert White made what is now his first surviving nature observation.

It's November! ✨ We are open for free today as it's photography day, so head down if you are free pop down! We are looking forward to warm drinks in the café, bracing walks through autumn leaves and of course a visit to the museum!

Happy Halloween 🎃

A little reminder that from Saturday (Nov 1st) we will be closing at 16:00. 🌝

Plant of the Week 🌱 Found by the greenhouse is the medlar - Mespilus germanica. (We have medlars out for sale in the stable yard) Oct 30th, 1772 Grass grows. Medlars shaken off the tree by the wind.

October 25, 1775 – The arbutus casts it’s blossoms & discloses the rudiments of its fruit. In theses two instances fructification goes on the winter through. Three martins in the street. Gossamer on every bent.

Tonight is Water Night! 💧 An initiative from @waterwiseuk se challenging us all to turn off our taps for one night between 5pm and 10pm to tackle water scarcity, protect the environment, and inspire change across the UK. Find out more: waterwise.org.uk/campaign/wat...

Half Term is nearly upon us! 🎃Our free Pumpkin trail starts from Saturday! 🕷Wild Wednesday is spider themed! 🦇And our Non-spooky twilight tales are all about bats! 📸We are open for free on the 1st for our photography day! Find out more here: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/events-grid/

If you enjoyed listening to Jenny Uglow on BBC R4 Start the Week, please do visit us at Gilbert White’s Hampshire home @gilbertwhites.bsky.social for your own journey of discovery in his natural world & beautiful landscape.

October 21, 1775 – The storm on Thursday night tore all the remaining flowers to pieces. *With us the country people call coppices, or brush-wood, ris, or rice: now hris in Saxon signifies frondes, & is no doubt whence our provincial term originates.

Did you hear Jenny Uglow, the author of 'A Year with Gilbert White' on Radio 4's Start The Week this morning? The discussion was on Maps and Gilbert White and will be on again at 9pm tonight or available on BBC Sounds.

Plant of the week 🌱 Located by the historic fruit wall, the striking Nicandra physalode, also known as the Apple of Peru or Shoo-fly, adds a touch of South American flair to the 18th century English gardens.

Things are looking autumnal here at Gilbert White's House and Gardens. Golden leaves are sprinkled on the grass and paths. Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes have sprouted too! We thought we'd share some ideas of what you can do this autumn to connect with nature.

Twilight Tales 🦇 Stories, craft and a torch lit trail around the museum after hours. This year our theme is bats! Suitable for ages 4–11 👉https://gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/twilight-tales-2/... Date: 30th October Times: 4.30pm- 6pm Price: £8 adult £5 child

We still have some stallholder availability for our Christmas Fair on the 6th December. If you are interested please email [email protected]

Wild Wednesday: Spider Safari🕷 All things arachnid Wild Wednesdays are an hour of hands-on activities for children and their parents to experience local wildlife. Suitable for 5-11 year olds. gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/wild-w...

Oct 11th, 1775 Lowered the flower-bank in the garden, & laid it on a gentle slope, & filled it with flowers of various sorts.

Pumpkin Trail 🎃 The pumpkin trail is back! Pumpkins and gourds of all shapes sizes and colours will be placed in some unusual places around our gardens this Autumn Half Term– collect your Pumpkin Spotters guide and see how many you can find!

It's World Mental Health Day this Friday. In the UK, 1 in 4 adults experience a mental health problem each year. To support your wellbeing on the 10th October, we’re offering: One free tea or filter coffee when you bring a flask to the café 2 for 1 entry to our gardens #WorldMentalHealthDay

Calling all teachers! 👩‍🏫 A Nature Connected Curriculum A free workshop for KS1 & 2 Teachers, Teaching Assistants and Learning Support Assistants at Gilbert White Field Studies Centre. Find out more: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/a-natu...

Plant of the week 🍐 Pear 'Passe Crasane' found in the herb garden, it originates from Rouen in Frances and can often be found in gourmet menus!

This Saturday the 4th October is 'No Disposable Cup Day'. Did you know that 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are used in the UK each year which translates to approximately 7 million cups being discarded every single day. #NoDisposableCupDay

Happy October 🍂 We have some exciting events coming up this month! All out events can be found here: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/events-grid/

Plant of the week 🌱 Found in the 6 Quarters this week, Aster (Michaelmas daisy). Aug 30th, 1772 Mich. Daisy begins to blow.

Did you know that Selborne has two streams one that joins the Wey and the Thames and one that joins the Arun? 'At each end of the village, which runs from south-east to north-west, arises a small rivulet: that at the north-west end frequently fails; but the other is a fine perennial spring.'

New for 2025! We are offering group discounts for our Eco Light Trail this year! Perfect for societies looking for a new experience or a festive work trip with a difference! We also have a youth group discount which could cover a Scout or Guiding group! gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/eco-li...

September 23, 1783 – Black snails lie out, & copulate. Vast swagging clouds.

Plant of the week 🌱 In the Six Quarters Hylotelephium 'Matrona' (sedum) Did you know that Sedum was first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, with 15 species.

70 Objects 70 Stories Volunteer Christ Piper shares his favourite ecological memories of his time here at the museum!

A guide to hop picking at Gilbert White’s House and Gardens

Calling all aspiring marine biologists! 🐬 We are working with @marinelife1.bsky.social who are hosting Training on our site on the 11th October! Sign up here: register.enthuse.com/ps/event/Gil...

Quick! Early bird for booking the Eco Light Festival ends tomorrow! ✨ If you want to get a great choice of timings and a discount book NOW! gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/eco-li...

Heritage Open Day is on the Thursday 18th! 🏰 We will opening our doors for free all day! 🙌 Plus you can join us in the evening for a free online talk about the architecture of the building. Tickets for the talk can be found here: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/gilber...

September 12, 1775 – Put 50 fine bunches of grapes in crape bags to secure them from wasps.

Happy publication day to Jenny Uglow and the team at @faberbooks.bsky.social! Available from all good book shops including ours!

We are looking for an Environmental Trustee to join our board. 🌱 For full details follow the link: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/opportunities/

September 3, 1775 – Great rain. Hops sadly washed. Destroyed the 26th wasps-nest, a vast colony.

Plant of the Week 🌱 Rosa villosa (the apple rose). It's Rosehip season here at Selborne. First described in 1753, it is native to Europe, where it is found in the central, southern and southeastern parts of the continent, including southwestern Russia.

It's September! We are now closed on Mondays! Our birthday is this week and our 70th anniversary exhibition begins today! 🥳 All our events can be found here: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/events-grid/

Summer is drawing to a close. 🌻 From tomorrow (Sept 1) we will no longer be open on Mondays. Our opening hours will be Tues-Sun 10:30-16:30. For those that prefer a quieter visit September is the perfect month to do so!

Tour Tuesday Want to know more about the House and Gardens? Join us on Tour Tuesday for an extra special experience. Date: Tuesday 9th September Times: 11:30 (Garden) 14:00 (House)

Volunteer Matthew Corser has been busy constructing a dead hedge to protect our growing trees. Hear him talk about the process of creating them and learn more about how they deter the cheeky 🦌 local wildlife of Selborne! #nature #trees #wildlife #deadhedge

Plant of the week 🌱 Callistephus chinensis (China aster) which can be found in the stable yard and around the house. May 16th, 1793 Sowed-in the three-light annual frame African & French marigolds, China asters, pendulous Amaranths, Orange-gourds.

After a year in the making, our new bridge in the Naturalist’s Garden is open! 🌿 Volunteer Tom cut the green ribbon, welcoming visitors to get closer to the pond’s wildlife, from newts to dragonflies. 🪷 #GilbertWhite

Exhibition: 70 Objects 70 Stories On the 6th September 1955 the Duke of Wellington opened ‘The Oates Memorial Library and Museum & The Gilbert White Museum’ to the public. 70 years later we are celebrating with an exhibition which tells the story of the last 70 years.

Plant of the week 🌱 Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy) found in the Herb Garden. Did you know that Tansy is often used as an insect repellent? In England tansy is placed on window sills to repel flies; sprigs are placed in bed linen to drive away pests, and it has been used as an ant repellent!