Go on an adventure with '50 things to do before you're 11¾' at Gunby

Child looking at a bug — What creepy crawly did you catch?

Gunby is perfect for completing some of your '50 things' activities. Collect a free '50 things' leaflet from the Gunby tea-room and kick off your adventures.

What will you pick?

With 1,500 acres to roam, there are lots of activities to complete at Gunby. Why not try one of the ones listed here?

No. 1 get to know a tree

Get to know our huge trees, like the enormous cedar tree on the back lawn, the impressive beech tree on the courtyard and the rows of lime trees on the drive. Give them a hug if you can, feel their bark, find out what the shape of their leaves is and check if they smell nice.

Child hugging the cedar tree at Gunby — Get to know a tree - like the huge cedar tree at Gunby

No. 5 skim a stone

Find the perfect flat stone and head over to the ice house pond. Concentrate, focus and see how far you can skim it over the water's surface. Make sure you don't hit any ducks or moorhens that are paddling nearby.

A young boy holding a flat stone ready to skim it — Skim a stone

No. 8 spot a fish

Stand quietly near Gunby's carp pond and you'll see lots of big and small fish gliding through the water. On a warm day the carp come near the surface to bask in warm sunshine and they often blow bubbles.

Carp in Gunby's carp pond — Spot the Gunby carp blowing bubbles in the carp pond

No. 18 create some wild art

Whatever the season, there will be petals, leaves, sticks and stones to find in the Gunby gardens to create a piece of wild art. Create it on a tea-room table while you enjoy a snack or lay it out on one of the Gunby lawns. You can leave your masterpiece in place for others to see or you can put all the pieces back again where you found them.

Create some wild art with natural materials in Knole Park, Kent. — Create some wild art with natural materials.

No. 44 watch a bird

If you're lucky you'll be able to watch a bird in close-up. If you sit quietly in the carriage garage or on the courtyard, one of the Gunby chaffinches is sure to come for a visit to peck at some crumbs. Can you see if it's a male or a female bird?

Children bird watching — How many birds can you spot?

No. 45 find your way with a map

Collect a map from the Gunby tea-room for short walk to the ice house pond, or a longer one to the remains of Bratoft Manor. Follow the map and see if you reach your destinations. Don't worry if you get lost as there will be way-markers too to help you find your way.

Map route for Gunby Hall to Bratoft Manor walk

Join the Ranger

Check out the list below or the Gunby 'What's on' page for regular free activites with the Gunby Ranger, like making wild art, making friends with a bug and discovering what's in a pond.

Children looking at creatures captured in pots — Make friends with a bug

No. 35 discover what’s in a pond

Saturday 18 and 25 May 11.30- 13.00 and 14:30-16.00. Have an adventure with the Gunby Ranger and discover what minibeasts live in the Ice House Pond. Free with admission; age range: 5-12.

A child with a tadpole in a container of water and a fishing net, at Colby Woodland Garden, Pembrokeshire — Discover what's in a pond

No. 31 make friends with a bug

Tuesday 23 July and Tuesday 13 August 11.30-12.30 and 14.00-15:00. Go on an adventure with the Gunby Ranger and discover more about the insects that call our grounds their home. Free with admission; age range 5-12.

No. 7 fly a kite

Saturday 27 July 11am- 3pm: Using items that can be found around the home and in nature, create your own masterpiece. Once you've finished your kite, have a go at flying it around the gardens and grounds. £1 per kite; age range 5+.

A young girl at the 2014 Dunstable Kite Festival, on the Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire. — Fly a kite

No. 35 discover what’s in a pond

Tuesday 30 July: 11.30- 13.00 and 14:30-16.00. Have an adventure with the Gunby Ranger and discover what minibeasts live in the Ice House Pond. Free with admission; age range: 5-12.

No. 16 wear a wild crown

Saturday 10 August: 11am-3pm (throughout the day). Create a crown on your very own using sticks, leaves and other items which can be found on our grounds. Fifty pence per crown; age range 5+.

Smiling girl wearing a daisy chain crown — What material will you find to make your wild crown?

No. 43 help a wild animal

Saturday 24 August 11am-3pm (throughout the day). Get messy and creative and make a pine cone feeder to take home. The Gunby Ranger will help with your masterpiece. Fifty pence per feeded; age range 5+.

Natural Navigation

Tuesday 6 August: 11.30-12.30 and 13.30-14.30. Learn how to navigate and find your way using only your natural surroundings with the Gunby Ranger. Free with admission; age range 7+.