Free access to Calke Abbey and Melbourne Hall Gardens on Saturday 13 September are among the many freebies available over Heritage Open Days from Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 September 2008.

In South Derbyshire, there are still places available on guided historical walks which are on offer at Hartshorne, Melbourne, Aston, Elvaston and Repton, but you will need to book them. There is a local history display in Twyford Church.

Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September is also the weekend of the Melbourne Festival Trail, when historic properties in the town centre are open as hosts of art displays as well as for their architectural interest.

Here are the guided historical walks which you could enjoy.

An Historical Walk around Hartshorne with Janet Spavold

Janet Spavold edited a popular history of Hartshorne and its Parliamentary Enclosure in 1984, written by a research group under her leadership. As Janet will explain, the Group's findings threw new light on this interesting and diverse South Derbyshire village.

Directions: Meet at the Dethick Hall car park, Manchester Lane, Hartshorne, which is off the A514 to the left of the Bulls Head Inn. Hartshorne is on the A514 two miles north east of Swadlincote.

Date: Thursday 11 September from 2 pm to 4 pm

Maximum number: 24

Booking: by phoning 228706 or by e-mail to planning@south-derbys.gov.uk.

Melbourne: From Farming Village to Industrial Town. A Guided Walk with Philip Heath

Melbourne was a significant medieval settlement, but grew rapidly in the Georgian and Victorian ages for the production of hosiery, silk gloves, boots and shoes, fruit and vegetables. This walk explores the evidence that remains visible from all ages of the town's development.

Directions: Entering Melbourne from A514, follow signs to parish church; Castle Square lies opposite. Meet by small monument/lamp post in Square.

Date: Thursday 11 September from 6 pm to 8 pm

Maximum number: 20

Booking: by phoning 228706 or by e-mail to planning@south-derbys.gov.uk

Aston on Trent: Guided Village Trail with Bob Read

An hour's walk around the village, which is a conservation area, followed with tour of Grade I listed parish church and refreshments. Free village trail issued to every participant.

Directions: Meet at the lychgate of the parish church. Aston is off the A6, 4 miles SE of Derby

Date: Friday 12 September at 1.30 pm

Maximum number: 12

Booking: Pre-book with Bob Read on 01332 792565

Elvaston: A Tour of Remarkable Trees with Peter Wood

Despite a flat and unpromising site, the Earl of Harrington created remarkable gardens and pleasure grounds at Elvaston in the mid 19th century. The grounds remain impressive and full of interest today with a large lake, rockwork, garden buildings and a wide variety of trees which are the focus of interest in this guided walk.

Directions: Tour begins at giant hollow oak tree by main car park. Elvaston is a few miles south east of Derby, off the A6 between Derby and the M1 at Junction 24

Date: Friday 12 September from 4 pm to 6 pm

Maximum number: 24

Booking: Pre-book by telephoning 01283 228706 or by e-mail to planning@south-derbys.gov.uk

Repton Village and Church - A Guided Walk

A guided walk around historic Repton, capital of the Saxon kingdom of Mercia, including the church and its crypt, one of England's most important Anglo Saxon survivals.

Directions: Meet at the lychgate of the parish church. Repton is off the A38, a few miles south west of Derby.

Date: Sunday 14 September from 2 pm to 4 pm.

Maximum number: 25

Booking: Please pre-book by telephoning South Derbyshire District Council on 01283 228706 or by e-mail to: planning @south-derbys.gov.uk

Twyford: Church, Parish and People

This is a local history display at the Grade I listed church including old pictures of the ferry, family trees, census records, school logbook, maps and plans, transcriptions of memorial inscriptions, church registers etc.

Directions: Twyford is off the A5132 which runs east-west to the south of Derby, and is midway between Swarkestone and the A38.

Date: Saturday 13 September, open from 10 am until 4 pm

Just turn up.

For further details of the South Derbyshire events, go to the latest issue of Heritage News (number 28) on the SDDC website at www.south-derbys.gov.uk/LeisureCulture/LocalHistoryHeritage

and for details of openings nationwide, including some very good offerings in neighbouring districts, go to www.heritageopendays.org.uk