Hampshire

Test Valley

Bring a sketchbook or borrow one from Mompesson and take the time to draw, paint or even write a poem in the garden. Free botanical illustration workshops in the garden.

Discover some of Simon Armitage's poetry written for the Festival of Blossom in our garden. Pick up a sketchpad and have a go at drawing a flower, or join the drop-in botanical drawing workshop on a Saturday.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

This year, celebrate the unseen people who ran Mompesson House behind the scenes.

Celebrate blossom this spring at Mompesson House with free activities from 22 March to 4 June.

As part of our Festival of Blossom celebrations, we are offering free early entry to Mompesson House for those who require a quieter environment. Early entry starts half an hour before opening times.

Drop in to one of our Saturday workshops with local artist Sally Pond to discover some tips on botanical drawing.

Festival of Blossom - Arts Week

Throughout the day Wolverhampton glass artist Suzie from Suzie Lavender Contemporary Glass will be teaching two sessions of fused glass making techniques. These workshops are suitable for beginners or as a refresher course.

Throughout the day Wolverhampton glass artist Suzie from Suzie Lavender Contemporary Glass will be teaching two fused glass design and make sessions. You are welcome to attend either the morning or afternoon workshop or you can attend both sessions for the day at a discounted price. These workshops are suitable for beginners or as a refresher course.

Full day attendees (4hr) will make a large glass ladder (30x6cm) throughout the day. You will be designing, cutting, planning, laying out and creating the piece. Half day attendees (2hr) will be making a similar smaller suncatcher (15x5cm) and will be following similar but quicker instruction.

This glass is intended to emulate stained glass techniques but this is NOT a stained glass workshop, purely a glass fusing workshop: all of the materials used will be glass. There will be no foiling, soldering or leading in this class.

Morning Session 10:30am-12:30pm - £40 Lunch (not provided) 12:30-1:30pm. Wightwick Manor has a tearoom on site and many areas for enjoying your lunch in the fresh air if the weather suits. Afternoon Session 1:30pm-3:30pm - £40

You have the choice to attend just the morning or afternoon session or to attend the full day at a discounted price of just £70. Booking essential, all Materials, safety equipment and tools are provided. Please wear closed toe shoes. Contact Suzie with any specific requests, access or assistance needs or requirements.

Call 07792206153 All booking is directly with Suzie Lavender Contemporary Glass or direct from www.lavenderart.co.uk

Please park in the main car park and make your way up the path to the Manor. The course will take place in the Meeting Room which is located above the Old Manor shop (not wheelchair accessible).

Please wear closed toe shoes, no stiletto heels.

Note that as Wightwick Manor is a historical venue, some floors may be unlevel. The Meeting Room is located on the second floor of the old Manor building, up a short flight of stairs (no wheelchair access). Visitor toilets are in a separate building next to the tearoom.

Please note that access can be limited/difficult persons of disability due to the room’s location on the first floor. There is no lift and the room is not wheelchair accessible. Other venues where Suzie also holds workshops do have disabled access however, please contact Suzie for more information. All Materials, safety equipment and tools are provided. Please wear closed toe shoes. Contact Suzie with any specific requests, access or assistance needs or requirements. Tea and coffee are provided and you are welcome to bring drinks and small snacks into the workshop room.

Suzie Lavender

Celebrate the festival of blossom with us here at Wightwick and admire the knitted (and real!) blossom in the gardens this spring.

This May Half Term, bring along the family to have a go at our craft activity and try some of our outdoor games.

Join us in the wonderful surroundings here at Wightwick to build on what you already know and see what you can do with your photography.

This is a workshop aimed at adult beginners or first time felters with tutor Natalie Harris(Brooks). Natalie is a fine artist using needle felting and the creator of Roly Poly Ponies.

Fused Glass Workshop with Suzie Lavender - half day/full day - Glass Ladder Design and Make

An expert volunteer guide will lead you around the 270 acres of parkland to learn more about the site's history, archaeology, management and significance. At 10.30am and 1.30pm on selected days.

Walks start at visitor reception and finish down by the house. They are free of charge, but normal admission costs apply. Walks are subject to volunteer availability - please check on arrival.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Suitable for all ages.

Visitor Reception in the car park.

The parkland is steep and uneven in places so please wear sturdy footwear and clothing suitable for the outdoors.

The parkland is steep and uneven in places.

Dyrham team

Want to find out more about Dyrham's garden? Why not join one of our expert volunteer guides on a tour?

The popular session for pre-schoolers is back in March 2024 with nature activities each Tuesday morning in term time until mid October.

Join a tour guide to discover Dyrham village in the summer of 1704. Learn about how the village was connected to the estate and interesting facts about the villagers at that time. Please be aware that this walk has a limited number of places....

Crawl like a caterpillar, jump like a grasshopper and leap like a frog this May half term at Dyrham Park. Get active around the garden while picking up some fascinating facts.

Guided parkland walks

Inspired by the landscapes of Cornwall and it's ever changing moods, an exhibition by Rosie Mack is now showing at Botallack Count House.

A graduate of Canterbury University, Rosie Mack studied classical oil painting with Robert Greenham and lives and works in North Cornwall.

This exhibition, inspired by the landscapes of Cornwall, draws from many sources "imprinting a memory of light, colour, place and shape".

"The landscape of Cornwall has long been my inspiration, it's ephemeral light qualities and ever changing moods fascinate me. One of my ongoing themes is the exploration of the rich local landscape with its range of industrial architecture, which acts as man-made geological layers. The remains of the old tin and copper mines both blend into and form the existing geography, the previously bruised landscape being absorbed back into nature."

There is accessible parking and ramped access to Botallack Count House, and accessible toilet facilities on site. For any further information please call 01736 786934.

The exhibition will run during Botallack Count House opening hours, please see the website for times. Botallack and Botallack Count House are free to visit. The Count House Cafe (not National Trust) will be open, serving tasty snacks and drinks. There is plenty of parking available, charges apply (free for National Trust members).

Botallack Count House Workshop

Rosie Mack Exhibition

Enjoy a stroll around Clumber Park's core visitor area, discovering snippets of the estate's ducal history and seasonal highlights. Each month has a different theme and route. The route is no longer than 3km.

The themes for 2024 are:

Monday 15 January: Archaeology of the Mansion site & Pleasure Grounds

Monday 19 February: The loves and losses of the 4th & 5th Dukes of Newcastle

Monday 18 March: Spring bulbs and the Clumber daffodil

Monday 15 April: The history & cultivation of Clumber’s National Collection of rhubarb

Monday 20 May: Clumber's connection with queer drama, featuring poets, playwrights and performers

Monday 17 June: Clumber’s agricultural shows and the recreation of the ducal families

Monday 15 July: Herbaceous borders and the walled kitchen garden

Monday 19 August: The Georgian era and the landscapes and buildings that transformed Clumber into a ducal seat

Monday 16 September: Financial failures and the monetary mishaps of the Dukes of Newcastle

Monday 21 October: Clumber’s heritage apple collection

Monday 18 November: Notable trees in Clumber’s Pinetum

Monday 16 December: The Regency era and how Christmas was celebrated

Meet outside the Heritage Hub in the Lincoln Stables at 11.00.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Children are welcome when accompanied by a responsible adult

Meet outside the Heritage Hub in the Lincoln Stables.

Seasonal outdoor clothing and footwear.

The route is mostly accessible with chosen paths being flat. However, some paths may become uneven and an essential companion is recommended where possible. Please email clumberprogramming@nationaltrust.org.uk for more info.

Clumber Programming and Partnerships Team

If you are completely new to running, looking to ease yourself back into some gentle exercise or training for a Parkrun or Trust 10K, this is the perfect group for you.

Come and join us at Central Bark, our dog friendly café, every Wednesday at 10am for a walk and talk around Clumber Park.

Nordic walking is a fantastic way to get fit in the great outdoors. Explore the beauty of Clumber Park with qualified instructors.

Connect with nature, have lots of fun in the outdoors and even enjoy a theatre performance this May half term.

Heritage and Horticulture Amble

Botanical and embroidery artist Olga Prinku brings her exclusive Nature’s Tapestry: Botanical Embroidery at Hidcote exhibition to Hidcote. Find out more.

Nature’s Tapestry | Botanical Embroidery at Hidcote Friday 29 March to Monday 30 September

Hidcote will host botanical and embroidery artist Olga Prinku in the exhibition hall this spring. Olga’s work combines dried and preserved flowers and other natural materials with tulle fabric, to create motifs inspired by nature.

Olga has been visiting Hidcote through the seasons to collect materials which she will use to create three artworks inspired by the garden. These will be displayed alongside her wider body of work. Her work uses materials like seed-heads that we ordinarily overlook to create intricate and unique artworks inspired by the changing of the seasons, and the raw beauty of the natural world.

The exhibition is located in the Entrance Hall of the house and is free to enjoy. Normal admission to the property applies.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Exhibition takes place in the Entrance Hall of the House

Level access to the House can be found via East Court

Discover the history of Hidcote and its creator, Major Lawrence Johnston, as well as the garden conservation work of the National Trust on a guided garden tour. Find out more...

Join Swan School of Tai Chi & Qigong at Hidcote as they take you through the ancient Chinese tradition of Tai Chi.

Join Lizzy from Tellus Mater for forest bathing and well-being sessions at Hidcote. Learn about delving into your surroundings to connect with nature and boost well-being. Find out more...

Join Hidcote's Building Historian to explore the history of the estate and its buildings in a series of behind-the-scenes tours. Find out more...

Nature’s Tapestry | Botanical Embroidery at Hidcote

A celebration of tapestry, embroidery and appliqué. Discover how Bess of Hardwick’s exquisite textile collection tells her story.

Elizabethan England was a material world. Power, identity and virtue were all expressed though what you owned and what you built.

Elizabeth Shrewsbury designed Hardwick Hall to shout about who she was and how far she had come. From the solid stone ES initials on the roof to the magnificent tapestries and textiles she hung inside, everything was a material statement about Bess.

The stories on the wall:

Tapestries and textiles were more than just interior decoration, they were a form of art used to make a statement. Their size, expensive materials and the stories they told made them the perfect medium to publicly project the power and status of the owner.

Discover the symbolism and hidden meaning in the images and stories which don the 400- year-old walls. See if you can spot Bess’ devotion to Penelope throughout the hall, a beacon of virtue dedicated to her husband.

Conservation:

It took 24 years for the 13 Gideon tapestries to go through cleaning and conservation and a whopping £1.7 million to restore them back to their full glory.

Find out more about the painstaking work of the specialist cleaning team in Belgium and the people behind the hand stitched repairs at the National Trust’s Conservation Studio.

Taking in the tapestries:

Let the textiles do the talking in the Long Gallery as you uncover new stories in the Gideon tapestries through ‘slow looking’. Accompanied by a magnificent soundscape, this really will be a treat for the senses!

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Call 01246 850430

Children welcome

This display will in the hall only, across the Museum Rooms, the High Great Chamber and the Long Gallery.

The displays in the Museum Rooms of the Hall are on the ground floor and will be fully accessible. Please note that to view the upper floors of the hall, there is no lift available and is only accessible by stairs.

Please note that last entry to the hall is at 2.45pm.

General

Find out more about the work of the specialist craft teams who help us care for the National Trust collections and historic properties.

Intermediate 3.5 mile group walk around the Hardwick Estate. Make friends and get outdoors!

The Para Parade commemorates Hardwick’s history as the location for the 1st Parachute Brigade who lived and trained on the estate in the 1940s.

Reimagine the 'Lost Embroidery' at Hardwick Hall: Join Layla Khoo and stitch the fabric of modern virtue through creative participation.

Material Power: Let the textiles do the talking

Explore Ickworth as a masterpiece of design in our new celebration for 2024. From the iconic Rotunda with its innovative Italianate gardens to the estate's structured parkland, Ickworth is a dream of Rome within the heart of Suffolk.

Trace the footsteps of Ickworth's residents over the years in our house exhibition and learn just how the Rotunda came to be. Beginning with Ickworth's visionary curator, the 'Earl-Bishop', step through time to learn the stories of those who helped bring his ideas to life - and those who changed it. From quality craftsmanship to pioneering design, we invite visitors to discover why Ickworth is designed the way it is. Visit daily from 29 March from 11am. Last entry to the House 3pm.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Children welcome, please ensure they are under close supervision at all times.

Head to the Rotunda on arrival and through the front doors.

Suitable footwear, ideally not muddy please. We regret that prams and pushchairs are not permitted inside the Rotunda.

There is a lift for those that are unable to climb the stairs to the first floor. Please speak to a team member for more information.

Ickworth Estate

Join the team caring for Ickworth's treasures to discover more about the Hervey family and their collection.

Learn about the architectural styles and interior fashions that influenced the creation of Ickworth’s iconic Rotunda.

Hear the stories of the servants who lived and worked at Ickworth as you discover the hustle and bustle that went on below stairs.

Take a step behind closed doors in the Rotunda to see Ickworth through the eyes of our Collections Team.

Ickworth - A Design Masterpiece

Brought to Light contrasts the work of two of the Lake District’s great photographers: Herbert Bell, a chemist’s son from Ambleside, and Rupert Potter, father of the children’s author Beatrix Potter, in a never before seen way.

Scanned from historic prints at high resolution and shown at a large scale, the images give a glimpse into two different experiences of the same landscape: a wealthy Kensington family on holiday for whole summers, and a local lad producing souvenirs for the tourist trade and going on youthful expeditions with his friends.

Whilst the interiors of Wray have changed over time, many of the landscapes captured by Rupert have remained the same. Stand in the same spot as the Potter family on the lawn at Wray for your family photograph or explore the landscapes Rupert he admired.

The exhibition is on the ground floor of Wray Castle, which is free to enter.

Wray Castle

Brought to Light: The Lakeland Photographs of Herbert Bell and Rupert Potter

Be inspired by the blossom that's filling Killerton with colour.

Local community groups have been getting creative, writing poetry inspired by the blossom of the Killerton estate. Wander through the emerging magnolias and cheerful cherry blossom in the formal gardens, reading poetry displayed across the site from 20 April to 30 June.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Content of the poetry may be suitable for older children.

Check in as you usually would at Visitor Reception, then keep an eye out for the poetry displayed across the site.

Some of the poetry may be displayed outdoors, so please dress for the weather.

Routes may be muddy and slippery, and some have inclines which may be challenging for pushchairs and manual or motorised mobility aids. Route information and difficulty will be available at Visitor Reception.

Killerton

Killerton's 2024 fashion exhibition will explore children's clothes of the 19th and 20th century.

Would you enjoy a quieter visit to Killerton? We're able to offer relaxed sessions; designed to be of benefit to visitors who prefer a quieter and calmer experience, such as those with autism, SEN or dementia.

Join Killerton’s Ecologist, Fiona Hailstone, as she guides you to discover some of the 1500 ancient trees on the Killerton estate.

Learn more about how a gift in your will could help carry out crucial conservation work at Killerton.

Killerton Springs into Rhyme: Blossom poetry display

A multi-media exhibition to celebrate Washington’s past, both real and mythical, marking 60 years as a New Town.

Washington Heritage Partnership has worked with Arts Centre Washington and Washington Old Hall to deliver this exciting new arts project, built around Washington’s multi-layered history.

Taking inspiration from the book of the same name by Fred Hill, the local historian and schoolmaster who played a key role in saving Washington Old Hall, local artists from the Sunderland Indie collective have produced a multimedia exhibition of contemporary art.

From July, the exhibition will move on to Arts Centre Washington.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Children welcome, must be accompanied by an adult.

Find the exhibition in the old café.

Access to the old café is via steps. An accessible route is available on request - please speak to a member of staff.

Washington Old Hall

Local musicians make a visit to Washington Old Hall extra special.

Innovative and rip-roaring outdoor theatre for all ages.

Join us for a free guided walk to Penshaw Monument, to appreciate the changes each season brings.

Washington: Fact, Fiction and Folklore

Discover the story of Vita Sackville-West’s life at Knole.

Discover the story of Vita Sackville-West’s life at Knole through to her wedding and bittersweet departure in 1913. This story will be brought to life around you with a new multimedia tour guiding you through key moments in Vita’s life.

Explore the Great Hall, where you'll see wedding presents that were gifted to Vita and Harold alongside a marriage album assembled by Vita. A portrait of Vita by Philip de László, usually found in the Long Library at Sissinghurst, will also be on display.

Around the showrooms you’ll find delicately detailed paper sculpture recreations of the dress worn by Vita at her wedding, as well as outfits worn by other members of the wedding party. The mannequins are designed and created by artist Denise Watson, of Delicarta, 'bringing paper to life'.

This is a rare chance to see the original manuscript of ‘Orlando’, which is on show in the Ballroom. Seldom displayed due to its fragile nature, the manuscript has Virginia Woolf’s handwritten notes on.

In the Cartoon Gallery a copy of Chatterton, the first work that Vita Sackville-West published, is displayed.

Continue your journey to the Orangery to see the contemporary art installation by artist Lorna Johnson. The piece consists of 150 hand sewn scented ruffles that symbolise strong female figures who ruffled feathers to move society forward, just like Vita.

This event is included with normal admission to Knole (showrooms, outdoor and tower ticket required) - there is no separate ticket.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Call 0344 249 1895 Please pre-book your visit to Knole.

Please go to the Visitor Centre to purchase admission tickets or to have pre-booked tickets redeemed.

The majority of the showrooms are upstairs. There is step-free access to the Great Hall. The Orangery is accessible via the lift in the Bookshop. Please see Access Statement for more details.

This event is included with normal admission to Knole (showrooms, outdoor and tower ticket required) - there is no separate ticket. Normal admission charges to Knole apply. Admission tickets to Knole become available approximately 4 weeks in advance. To use the National Trust car park, pre-book admission per person (not per vehicle) to guarantee entry. National Trust members visit and park free; non-members will need to purchase an admission ticket to Knole.

Knole

Make new friends and chat while your little ones play at Knole Fawns parent and toddler group.

Hidden above the showrooms lie Knole's attics. Join a behind the scenes tour to explore these spaces and see a different side to Knole.

Have you got a little one under 5? Then come along for a fun morning at Knole with babyccino coffee mornings and storytime in the bookshop.

Join this linocut workshop led by Rachel Moore, a professional Kent-based artist and printmaker.

Vita: Discover a story of love and life at Knole

An exhibition celebrating local herbal recipes, remedies and food stories handed down through generations.

Come and learn more about local cures for ailments and weird and wonderful concoctions and recipes that families swore by.

This nostalgic exhibition presents a range of oral histories which unite a community through memories of Pobs, nettles and cod liver oil (to name just a few) and a selection of the best recipes we have collected from speaking with community groups.

Take some time listen and absorb the stories and add your own memories to the pot. What foods made you feel well as a child? What foods made you feel loved and safe?

As part of the exhibition we have invited local artist, Shazia Ashraf, to create artworks that celebrate the herbal history of Wakefield.

This project was supported by Wakefield Council with a Culture Grant as part of Our Year – Wakefield District.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

All welcome

This exhibition will be in the Orangery which is accessible through the rose garden.

The Orangery is wheelchair accessible

Property Office

Join our resident bird experts on a mindful walk through the woods at Nostell to experience the incredible dawn chorus.

Would you like to learn more about flowers and how to create a show worthy garden?

Follow the trail as it winds through the gardens to find out about the incredible work that our garden pollinators do.

Join us as we celebrate Wordfest with a huge Bookstravaganza event in the Riding School this May half term.

Herbal Histories of Wakefield exhibition

Do you have an interest in nature and its wonderful creatures? Ever wanted to learn more about bees? Come join our volunteer-led talk.

Find out how our volunteer bee keepers looks after the bees that live at Charlecote Park. Hear about the decline of pollinators and what we can do to help bees to thrive.

The talk will last half an hour with an opportunity for questions at the end.

Free talk, normal admission prices apply. No booking needed.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Children are welcome.

Wood Yard Cafe

Wear whatever is most suited for the weather.

This talk is accessible to people with mobility requirements. If you need a wheelchair or tramper, please contact us ahead of your visit.

This talk is free but cash donations are always welcome.

Charlecote Park

'Buzz' around the parkland on this family-friendly activity trail and help the bees find their queen bee.

Have fun making something bee-themed for May half-term.

Enjoy a vibrant and colourful summer of play in the outdoors at Charlecote Park.

Do you have an interest in nature and its wonderful creatures? Ever wanted to learn more about moths? Come join our volunteer-led tour.

World Bee Day Talk

Explore the outdoors with your little ones at our weekly Nature Tots group

Bring your little ones to our parent and volunteer led toddler group. Our Nature Tots group is for children aged up to 5 years old and their parents/carers. Each week parents and carers help the Nature Tots volunteers to organise and run nature inspired activities and together we experience and learn about the natural world around us.

Nature Tots discover Studland Bay and the landscape around them through activities and stories. The beautiful coastal setting with dunes and woodland makes the perfect location to discover the outdoors throughout the seasons.

Nature Tots meets during the BCP and Dorset school term time on Monday mornings.

Please note: sessions will not run on Mondays outside of school term times, including Easter, Bank Holidays, half terms, summer holidays and Christmas. Unfortunately this group is not suitable for childminders with groups.

Little ones welcome

Meet outside the Discovery Centre

Dress for the weather and wear clothes you can get mucky in.

There is level access from the Discovery Centre car park onto the grassy area outside the Discovery Centre. Some activities take place in the woodland, dunes and beach which have varying terrains.

Pay and Display parking. Free to National trust members and blue badge holders.

Studland Office

Enjoy a unique yoga session in Studland's dunes & a rare chance to connect with yourself & nature in the tranquil beauty of this special location. For all levels, this session blends gentle yoga, stretching, and meditation.

Enjoy the unique experience of a ranger guided nature tour around our beach and dunes in one of our all terrain vehicles (ATVs). A single ticket purchased will be for up to three people inside the vehicle.

Help improve your mental health and wellbeing at Studland. Enjoy the tranquil beauty of the bay, the peaceful solitude of a super national nature reserve and why not step off the beaten path and explore our heath woodland.

Join us for a mindful journey in nature being aware of our senses, walking through woodlands followed by gentle movements in the sand dunes.

Nature Tots

Brought to you by the National Trust and Stoked Watersports, an opportunity to get out on the lake and maybe try something new.

At Stoked Watersports there is something for everyone. We run regular kayak, paddleboard and row boat hourly hire sessions throughout the day perfect for beginners.

For more experienced paddlers we have our SUP pick up and go service giving you the freedom to explore Lake Windermere at your own pace.

Our watersports base at Fell Foot on the southern tip of Lake Windermere is set within the National Trust’s Fell Foot park - a very special place which never fails to impress. It is quite simply the best place to experience watersports hires on Lake Windermere.

Call 02393 593939 Book direct with our activity provider Stoked Watersports.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Please take a look at the joining instruction PDF you receive when you make a booking as it contains useful information including a site map.

Recommend wearing quick drying clothes, wetsuit shoes or lightweight trainers. Bring a full change of clothes and towel. Sunglasses, suncream, hat and waterbottle are advisable.

Speak to the team at Stoked Watersports about access requirements.

It is normally adverse weather (heavy rain and/or strong winds) which limits us from operating due to your and our team’s safety. We are always checking the weather and our team is pro-active with this and so if the weather is looking iffy Stoked Watersports will contact you to discuss all the options.

Stoked Watersports

Join us every Thursday in May and June for a story and nature walk around the park.

A simple way to get fit, with a great community at its heart.

Get involved with Great Big Green Week at Fell Foot

Guided Nature and Environment Walks with the NT team. Learn more about the hidden natural gems around Fell Foot and take away ideas and inspiration for what you can do at home. Meet at the tea room at 11am.

Paddleboard, kayak and row boat sessions

Celebrate the festival of blossom with us here at Wightwick and admire the knitted (and real!) blossom in the gardens this spring.

Admire the blossom in our orchards and wider gardens this spring and see the handiwork of our talented volunteers and local craft groups with their knitted blossom displays around the gardens.

Accompanying the blossom displays will be printed poetry written by Simon Armitage, Poet Laureate, in collaboration with the National Trust.

See if you can find all of the knitted blossom displays and let them point you in the direction of the best views of the season.

You can also use the hashtag #BlossomWatch to share your pictures on social media.

This is a free, self-led trail around the gardens, normal admission costs apply, no booking required.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Suitable for all.

Please check in at Visitor Reception on arrival. The knitted blossom displays will be around the main areas of the garden for you to find.

The knitted blossom displays will take place around the outside of the buildings and throughout the main gardens, so please wear appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear if it has been raining.

The trail is located throughout the gardens, which contain some hard paths and some unmade grass paths. It may get muddy underfoot in some areas.

Events Team

Throughout the day Wolverhampton glass artist Suzie from Suzie Lavender Contemporary Glass will be teaching two sessions of fused glass making techniques. These workshops are suitable for beginners or as a refresher course.

Join us in the wonderful surroundings here at Wightwick to build on what you already know and see what you can do with your photography.

This is a workshop aimed at adult beginners and confident first time felters with tutor Natalie Harris(Brooks). Natalie is a fine artist using needle felting and the creator of Roly Poly Ponies.

Folksy Theatre presents Shakespeare's 'As You Like It'. Filled with Folksy's wonderful live music, audience interaction and downright silliness! Bring along your friends and family to watch this wonderful outdoor production.

Knitted Blossom and Poetry Trail at Wightwick Manor and Gardens

Experience a sound and visual art installation this spring

Colour, collage and sound are filling the aviary this spring. A group of young people from Hartcliffe have been working with artists Oshii and Jono Gilmurray to create a sound and visual art installation for Tyntesfield’s aviary. The group explored the history of the building and the bird life that would have inhabited it. They also delved into the significance of birds to Tyntesfield’s wider history and how the mining of seabird droppings (guano) for fertilizer made William Gibbs his fortune.

The final artwork not only explores these histories but encourages us to learn from them and think about how we can look after nature and our birdlife in future.

Echoes from the Aviary is a collaboration between the National Trust and Heart of BS13 and is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Yes

The aviary is found at the back of the house.

Please dress appropriately for the weather. Layers and sturdy shoes are advisable.

The Aviary is accessible via a step free route.

Tyntesfield

Join our friendly and knowledgeable Estate Guides for a gentle walk around Tyntesfield estate.

On this two day course, learn to make a Celtic backstool (three legged chair) with the Somerset Bodgers.

See Pif Paf's Sunshine on the Fallen Tree at Tyntesfield

Create your own colourful collaged bird

Echoes from the Aviary

Join us in a celebration of spring flowers, birds and blossom in the House.

This year, between 16 March and 24 May, you are invited to explore spring in the House.

Immerse yourself in nature as you admire the John Hungerford Pollen ceiling of painted flowers and birds in the Brown Drawing Room. Look out for spring themes within items from the collection, including a rare opportunity to see a beautiful embroidered floral silk quilt dating from around 1730-1750 on display in the Upper Ante Room.

There's also a new family trail featuring swallows – can you find them all? Head into the kitchen to test your origami skills and make some paper blossom.

The House is open from 11am to 4pm from 1 April - 24 May, with last entry 30 minutes before closing.

Standard admission prices apply, no booking required. Free entry for National Trust members.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Suitable for all ages

Please be aware that there is currently no lift access to the first floor of the house.

The exhibition takes place inside the house. Assistance dogs only.

Blickling Estate

Join us as we commemorate the anniversary of the death of Anne Boleyn.

Ruby the rabbit loves radishes and we love them too! Join us for a garden adventure inspired by the book 'Ruby Plants a Radish', written by Kate Petty and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

Trust10 monthly trail runs are a great way to blow away the cobwebs, get some exercise and take in spectacular scenery throughout the seasons.

Ever wondered what plants sound like? Join a special musical experience as Martin Noble-James from Revolutionary Biscuits presents Bio-sonification Live from the walled garden.

Spring's blossoming at Blickling Estate

Explore the home of the child workers of Quarry Bank on a unique tour

Child workers lived in the Apprentice House, often sent from workhouses far away. They laboured for long hours in the Mill, before returning to chores including gardening and sewing.

Discover how the children lived, where they slept, what they ate, what care they received, and hear the stories of Margaret Magin and Thomas Priestly.

When you arrive at Visitor Reception you can book onto a tour of the Apprentice House.

Tour times vary on week days and on weekends and during school holidays. Please ask for more details at Visitor Reception.

Tours are very popular so book your tickets early on the day of your arrival to avoid disappointment.

Tickets for tours cannot be pre-booked. Admission charges apply. Free entry for National Trust members.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

suitable for children aged 9+

Please enquire about going on a tour of the Apprentice House at Visitor Reception. When it's time for your tour please go to the meeting point next the Apprentice House.

There's no lift in the Apprentice House and to reach the first floor you'll need to climb a short, steep narrow set of stairs into the dormitory. A video tour of the Apprentice House is available.

Quarry Bank

Discover the beauty of blossom at Quarry Bank and excite your senses by following our blossom trail

This is your chance to see what life was like for the crowded families in the village

Visit the comfortable home of the Greg family: funded by the mill and right next to it, but far away from the world of its workers

Enjoy a behind the scenes look at how the hydro turns the power of the River Bollin into electricity

Apprentice House Tours

Have you got a little one under 5? Then come along for a fun morning at Knole with babyccino coffee mornings and storytime in the bookshop.

Come along to Knole on a Monday morning during school term time for some fun and entertainment for under 5s.

Babyccino coffee mornings in the Brewhouse cafe start at 10am. Get a free babyccino when you buy yourself a hot drink, and meet other parents and carers as you keep your toddler entertained with a selection of toys and games. Storytime starts at 11am in the Bookshop, so why not join in before or after your morning coffee? Enjoy new stories as well as some classics that you and your little one will love.

Babyccino coffee morning 10am-12pm Storytime in the bookshop 11-11.30am

These are free events suitable for children under 5, running every Monday during the school term. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Normal admission applies. Please pre-book an Outdoor and Tower ticket per person. Car parking is included in all admission tickets.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

No booking required for these events but we recommend prebooking your admission tickets to Knole.

Aimed at children under 5.

Please go to Brewhouse cafe for coffee mornings and the bookshop in Green Court for storytime.

There is step free access to both the bookshop and Brewhouse cafe. There are baby change facilities in Green Court and in the Conservation Studio building, which is opposite Brewhouse cafe.

No booking required for these events but we recommend prebooking your admission tickets to Knole. Children must be accompanied at all times.

Knole

Discover the story of Vita Sackville-West’s life at Knole.

Hidden above the showrooms lie Knole's attics. Join a behind the scenes tour to explore these spaces and see a different side to Knole.

Lord Sackville’s private garden at Knole is a beautiful space, featuring sprawling lawns, a walled garden, an untamed wilderness area and a medieval orchard.

Sorry, this event is now fully booked.

Toddler Mondays at Knole

Join one of our volunteer tour guides to see the abbey as the Georgians once did; incorporated into the dramatic designed landscape.

Fountains Abbey became the greatest folly of all when John Aislabie created his water garden at Studley Royal. See the abbey as the Georgians did on this guided tour; incorporated into the dramatic designed landscape and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The abbey and garden tour lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and will be run twice a day, seven days a week.

Unfortunately, sometimes our volunteer guides aren't available and we have to cancel tours. Please ask the admission staff on your arrival for the tour schedule on that day.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Meet at the Porter's Lodge; a 15 minute walk from the Visitor Centre, down a steep 20% gradient, 5 minutes from the level access West Gate entrance and 30 minutes from the Studley Royal entrance.

We are an outdoor site so please dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy shoes as the ground is uneven in places.

Access to the abbey is across a level grassy green. When the grass is particularly wet this can be impassable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and prams. We have a portable hearing loop available to hire, free of charge, for guided tours. Please call 01765 608888 to book. Please collect from your tour guide at Porter's Lodge. You can use this with a hearing aid set to 'T' or with headphones.

This tour will last approx. 1 hour 30 minutes. Unfortunately, sometimes our guides aren't available and we have to cancel tours. Please ask the admission staff on your arrival for the tour schedule that day.

Fountains Abbey

Join one of our volunteer tour guides to discover more about the largest monastic ruins in the country.

Walk with the wildlife volunteers to find out more about the Red, Sika and Fallow Deer.

Join us on a guided walk to discover more about the rocks and roots that lie beneath the estate.

Join one of our volunteer tour guides to discover more about the people who lived and worked on the abbey estate.

Garden and abbey tour

Join us as we explore the power of myths in shaping identities and understanding the world around us. Delve into the rich tapestry of myths, legends, and folklore.

Step into the fascinating world of Benjamin Disraeli, a remarkable British politician and storyteller. Disraeli knew that words held enormous power. Disraeli’s love for storytelling is reflected in his library and writings but also in his deliberate efforts to shape his personal narrative and legend, and in doing so attempt to influence public perception.

As you explore the mansion and grounds you will see how Disraeli wove together the art of myth making and storytelling to extend beyond the page to Hughenden’s manor, garden, and parkland.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Hughenden

In the Manor, discover how Disraeli masterfully used myths to craft his public persona and navigate the complex worlds of belonging, identity and relationships.

Are you looking to get outdoors, meet new people and improve your health and wellbeing? Join this free friendly 0.7 mile led walk with a short guided tour of the gardens and an overview of the park at Hughenden

Are you looking to get outdoors, meet new people and improve your health and wellbeing? Join this free, friendly 2.5 mile led walk through the woodlands around the Hughenden Estate, with views down to Hughenden Valley & High Wycombe.

Join us in celebrating Hughenden's literary heritage with our outdoor book fair. Discover literary treasures and support Hughenden with every book you take home.

Myths & Mythmaking

National Trust

We look after the places you love, from houses, buildings and gardens to coast and countryside. Join us and help protect them.

Festival of Blossom - Arts Week

National Trust

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