May half term at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

Tree listening installation  

30 April - 31 July. 10am - 5pm

Fancy having a chat with a tree?

The Tree Listening Project has arrived at Fountains Abbey and it’s just as ‘in-tree-guing’ as it sounds.

Pick up a pair of the headphones hanging from the sweet chestnut's branches and you'll hear the busy sounds happening under the bark.

Listen out for pops, rumbles and fizzes as the tree moves and pulls life giving water from the ground to the tips of its branches.

Visit the Tree Listening Project on the west green of the abbey.

Tree print art exhibition 

30 April - 26 June 10am – 4pm 

Visit the summer house opposite Fountains Hall to see some of artist Shona Branigan’s tree print collection.  She’s used fallen wood from the estate here to create her beautiful creations. On Saturday 21 May you’ll be able to have go yourself at Swanley Grange workshop. Pop in on your way down the hill to the abbey and create your own print to take home.

Find the Faces trail

Pick up a free trail sheet at admissions and use the map to find the faces that hide here at Fountains abbey and Studley Royal. They're everwhere if you take a moment to look! 

This children's trail will take little legs to parts of the estate they might not have visited before as part of the Joe Cornish photography exhibition Still Time to Wonder. 

Deer walk  

Sunday 22 May 1:30-3:30pm 

Trot along to find out about the deer in the Studley deer park with our wildlife team who'll also be on hand to share their knowledge of other creatures which live here.

We’re afraid dogs aren’t allowed on this walk due to proximity to wildlife. 

 

Waterlogged: an art trail by Henshaws at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.

28 May - 19 June 

Spot the watery wildlife on this family-friendly trail! Henshaws have been hard at work making colourful sculptures inspired by the wildlife in the Skell valley. Pick up a free trail sheet from admissions and have fun spotting sculptures and learning fun facts about what busy characters live in and around rivers.  

Get crafty!

28 May - 5 June,11am-3pm 

Stop by Swanley Grange on your way down to the abbey to make a colourful dragonfly out of a clothes peg to buzz around with you on your adventures.

Mini raft building 

Monday 30 May, 2pm-3:30pm  

You can’t help but notice the water crashing, splashing and cascading around here at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. While it’s only usually the swans and ducks you’ll see floating around, you’ll have a chance to make a mini raft from natural materials, before testing their sea-worthiness on the moon ponds.

Things to look out for...

Take a walk and let your nose lead the way as the scents of wild garlic and bluebells fill the air. The world has come alive again and you'll be able to see signs of the late springtime all over the estate. Be sure to look out for:

• Bees buzzing - with lots of new flowers in bloom the bees are busy doing their vital job. Can you spot any bees as you walk around?  What do you notice about their favourite flowers? Do you think bees have a favourite colour? Look closely and you might see the bright orange pollen on their back legs.
• A minibeast parade - lots of insects are coming out of hibernation. Can you spot butterflies and mayflies fluttering and buzzing? Or maybe a pond skater whizzing over the surface of the ponds in the water garden? Look closely at the stonework in the abbey and you'll see that even the smallest spaces are teeming with life.
• Brand new fluffy characters - you can't miss the fluffy little cygnets and goslings enjoying their first splashes in the water garden. Be sure to give them their space as they're busy learning under mum's watchful eyes and might be easily frightened. You might be lucky enough to see some new baby deer in the Studley park too. 

Adventuring making you hungry? 

Break up your day's adventures with a stop at one of three places around the estate. Grab a cooling icecream or warming (depending on the Yorkshire weather) cup of tea at the Mill Cafe kiosk. Enjoy the view with a sandwich at Studley Royal tea-room or tuck into a good meal at the visitor centre restaurant.

Indulge in a spot of shopping

You’ll find it hard to resist our range of seasonal stock inspired by National Trust places. From beautiful silk scarves in fresh spring prints to home-ware pieces for every home. Whether you fall in love with the range of beautiful patterns or are tempted by the fresh floral scents of this season’s candles we've got plenty of inspiration available for your home.