Would you like to learn more about the amphitheatre and obelisk, but can’t make it to the site? Take a virtual tour of Cirencester’s Roman Amphitheatre, complete with a potted history of the site, from the comfort of home!
This video was produced by Cirencester Civic Society and Cirencester Camera Club as part of 2021’s Heritage Open Days schedule. Narration by AQIVA’s Richard Horrocks.
This is event has now passed. Watch a virtual tour of the site here.
Join AQIVA for a guided walk around Cirencester’s Roman Amphitheatre Complex at 11am on Saturday 18th September 2021 as part of Cirencester’s schedule of Heritage Open Day events.
Meet at the Scout Hut car park, Cotswold Avenue, Cirencester, GL7 1XW to find out about the history and wildlife of this important site.
Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,000 local people and organisations, and thousands of volunteers. Every year in September, places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE.
Heritage Open Days 2021 is running from 10-19 September 2021. Find out what’s going on in Cirencester and the Cotswolds here.
Cirencester Ramblers have a series of self-guided walks available to download from their website showcasing some of the highlights of Cirencester. Of course, one of these walks had to include a visit to the AQIVA site!
Walk four is called AMPHITHEATRE AND CIRENCESTER PARK and described as: “A circular walk from Cirencester Market Place visiting the Amphitheatre and on to Cirencester Park”
Length: 2½ miles / 4 km
The route begins at the parish church before heading out of town to the Amphitheatre, Four Acres Field and into Cirencester Park, before returning back into the centre of Cirencester.
Head to cirencesterramblers.org.uk for more information about Cirencester’s rambling group and to browse the series of self-guided walk leaflets.
From Bibury Trout Farm to Cirencester Open Air Pool to the Corinium Museum, Cirencester Rocks is a goldmine of interesting things to do in Cirencester and we’re delighted to see that the Roman Amphitheatre has been included in this esteemed list.
Cirencester Rocks says: “On the outskirts of the Cotswold town of Cirencester are the massive earthwork remains of one of the largest Roman amphitheatres in Britain. It was built in the early 2nd century, when the Roman city of Corinium (now Cirencester) was second only to London in size and importance, with a population of over 10,000. The amphitheatre could hold about 8,000 spectators. After the Roman army left Britain, it was fortified against Saxon invaders.”
If you’re looking for for family days out in Cirencester, places to eat and local events, head to Cirencester Rocks!
Look out for some of these beauties as you walk around Cirencester amphitheatre, Querns Wood and IV Acre Field in Spring. You may be surprised by what you can find if you stop, look and listen closely…
Peacock butterfly
They seem to love the woodland edge in the IV Acre Field, flying up and down and sunning themselves on the grass. Watch out for their black caterpillars on nettles later on.
If you’re extra lucky, you might also get to spot one of these too…
Comma butterfly
The cut-out edging to their wings is quite easy to see in the photo. These are not that common anymore, but they can be seen on a sunny day at the woodland edge with the other butterflies.
7- spot ladybird
Hiding in a nettle leaf on the edge of the woodland in the amphitheatre. These beetles are brilliant at controlling garden pests such as aphids.
Woodlouse
In Querns Wood itself, you might find one of these in amongst the leaf litter.
They eat rotting plants and fungi. They basically deal with all the dead leaves and other vegetation.
Apparently, they only poo and don’t wee; and in this area they can sometimes be called “Grandads” or “Chucky Pigs”!!!
Robin
Watch out for the classic flash of red/orange and the loud song of the Robin as you wander round Querns Wood. Robins will agressively defend their territory, singing and fending off other birds.
If you would like to encourage them into your garden, open-fronted nest boxes hidden away in a climbing plant such as ivy, are best. And they love worms!
Grey squirrels are often easy to hear and see in Querns Wood, but they are very quick to scamper up a tree and disappear. I was very lucky to get this photograph of this one recently!
They are originally from North America and have out-competed our native species, the Red squirrel. This is because greys eat a wider range of food and carry a disease that doesn’t affect them, but kills the red.
Remember, to protect wildlife and look after our green spaces, please put your litter in a bin or take it home with you. Thanks!
Download your own version of AQIVA nature expert, Melanie Dodd’s, nature notes here.
