Heart of England, Southern England
English
07921 820847
Hello. My name is Heather Newman and I am a Blue Badge Guide for the Heart of England region.
I have grown up in the beautiful English countryside and my love for it has only increased by doing an Ecology degree at Harper Adams University and being based for 3 of those 4 years in the Shropshire countryside. This has stimulated my love for this beautiful and interesting area of the United Kingdom. One of those years, however, was spent as a ranger on a National Trust Estate and it puts me in a unique position to give people an insight into the countryside, land management, and rural life.
I have been involved in tour guiding and walk leading since my time at university as my parents run a walking holiday company that my grandparents set up. After university, I began working full time for the business (as the third generation!) leading walking tours around towns, cities, and also countryside walks as either half-day or full-day; my main area for this continues to be the Cotswolds and Oxford areas. I now also split my time between leading walks and driver guiding which I feel gives the opportunity to see a large amount of the region, especially areas a coach can’t reach!
Although I grew up in the southwest of England I have a deep family connection with the Heart of England area with family in Birmingham and the surrounding area and also family roots in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and Shropshire.
I look forward to sharing with you an interesting and very varied region of Great Britain.
| Wildflowers |
| Wildlife |
| Shakespeare |
| Gardens |
| Harry Potter |
| Lord of the Rings |
| History |
| Natural History |
| Oxford |
| Warwick Castle |
| Cotswolds |
| Cotswold Villages |
| Agriculture |
| Castles |
| Agriculture | Having attended an agricultural university and having also worked on a working farm I feel this is an area into which I can give a unique and balanced insight. |
| Birds & Animals | As I have an ecological degree I feel uniquely positioned to introduce you to the varied wildlife of this region of the United Kingdom. |
| Britain Today | As a young person living in Britain I look forward to introducing you to MY modern Britain. |
| Countryside | As a country girl I have spent most of my time in and around the countryside and then studied ecology and countryside management at university. |
| Environment | Part of my area of study was environmental management and environmental education. |
| Folklore & Traditions | I have always been fascinated by folklore and traditions and love having the opportunity to tell people about them! |
| Food & Drink | With so many great local producers and local delicacies across the region it is a fascinating topic! |
| Gardens | I love gardens and one of the most fascinating areas of my degree was into gardening and landscape design. I have also done a post graduate qualification with the University of Oxford in Landscape Gardening from the 1500s to present day. |
| History & Prehistory | Having grown up within a stones throw of Avebury and Stonehenge I have a passion for prehistory! I have always had a passion for history and having a sister who is a historian has only increased my interest! |
| Industrial Heritage | The Heart of England has a fascinating industrial history with the Ironbridge World Heritage Site, the city of Birmingham and the potteries of Stoke on Trent. |
| Literature | There is some fascinating literature and literary figures in the Heart of England! |
| Walking Tours | Having grown up with the family business of walking tours and having a lot of experience leading them myself I feel I am in a great position to lead you on a town or city walk or even a short or long walk in the region! |
Virtual Tours
Yes
| Type | Make / Model | Passengers | Air Conditioning | Disabled Access |
| Car | Land Rover Defender | 3 | Yes | No |
| Car | Mercedes V250 Class | 6 | Yes | No |
Regional Qualifications: Heart of England, City of Oxford Green Badge
Language(s): English