As part of celebrations commemorating 25 years of Bath achieving World Heritage Status, Bath &North East Somerset Council is staging a series of free talks from other prominent heritage sites.

The Tuesday lunchtime talks will be held on 14, 21 and 28 February, from 1.10pm to 1.45pm, in the Council Chamber at the Guildhall, Bath.

Speakers from Cornwall, Wales and London will share their experiences of managing World Heritage Status in relation to their own geographical gems.

Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: "Bath is one of only 28 UK World Heritage Sites, and they present a diverse mix of special places each with very different characters and challenges. It is important for us learn from other areas, as close ties with other World Heritage Sites help us to share best practice in managing these irreplaceable historic areas.

"As part of celebrations commemorating 25 years of Bath being the only entire UK city to achieve World Heritage Status, Bath & North East Somerset Council has invited three other sites to give these free lunchtime talks about their areas. We're delighted to welcome the speakers and we hope our residents and visitors will appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the World Heritage process, as well as enjoying the delights that a World Heritage Site such as Bath continues to offer."

On February 14, Deborah Boden, of Cornwall County Council, will deliver the talk 'Managing Cornwall's Heritage' - about the international significance of Cornish mining, and how miners from the area exported their expertise across the globe.

On February 21, John Rodger, from Torfaen Borough Council, continues the industrial theme with 'Coal dust to gold dust? Welsh Mining Heritage' – discussing the landscape of Blaenavon, how a working class industrial area gained World Heritage Status and the impact this has had on the area.

In 'Darwin's Landscape Laboratory', on February 28, Alister Hayes, from the London Borough of Bromley, will talk about Down House – the home and landscape laboratory of Charles Darwin. Mr Hayes will outline the significance of this site and why it has been proposed for World Heritage Status.   

All talks are in the Guildhall Council Chamber, on High Street, Bath, from 1.10pm to 1.45pm. No booking is necessary.

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