Half-term fun this autumn

Pop-up Pumpkin Patch 

This half-term the pop-up pumpkin patch returns to the garden where you will be able to join in some pumpkin themed activities and games.

See who will win a pumpkin rolling race, challenge your friends and family to a game of pumpkin skittles or join a pumpkin hunt around the garden.

Sat 26 Oct - Sun 3 Nov, 10am to 5pm. Free, normal admission applies

Autumn family trail

Join us this half-term for an autumnal pumpkin hunt, taking on some fun seasonal challenges along the way. Pumpkins with a range of funny faces and silly expressions will be dotted around the garden – mark as many as you can on your trail sheet to claim your prize at the end!

Sat 26 Oct - Sun 3 Nov, 10am to 4pm. £2.50 per trail, normal admission applies

Autumn Craft

In the afternoons, the Potting Shed will host family-friendly craft activities. Come and be inspired by autumn colours and pumpkins to design and decorate your own jam jar. 1.30pm - 4.30pm. Free, normal admission applies.

Woodland craft: Besom broom making

Come and make your own little besom broom using Silver Birch that has been harvested from the woods. The Ranger team will be outside in the plant centre to help you. These mini brooms will be perfect for collecting up fallen autumn leaves.

Tue 29 and Wed 30 Oct, 12noon to 3pm. £2 per broom, normal admission applies.

50 things

Autumn is a great time to check off several of your 50 things to do before you're 11 ¾. Our top choices for the season are:

1. Get to know a tree - take a closer look into the colourful canopy, or try and catch a leaf as it falls.

6. Go welly wandering - splash in some puddles or go on a woodland wander.

12. Have fun with sticks - use your imagination and see what you can create. 

18. Create some wild art - the colourful fallen leaves and twigs are great for making pictures.

31. Make friends with a bug - check out what's under the damp leaves or wriggling on the soil.

For more ideas collect your wallchart and stickers from our welcome hub.

Autumn Adventures

The garden and woods has a large variety of different tree species and this produces a kaleidoscope of colourful leaves in autumn. Come and enjoy the fun and beauty of autumn.

Collect colourful leaves                       Pick up pine cones

Watch a leaf fall from a tree                Make a leaf picture

Weave leaves on a twig                      Catch a leaf blowing in the wind

Geocaching

Explore down in the woods on a geocaching trail,a high-tech treasure hunt. Pick up a GPS devise from the welcome hub and use it to follow a route around the woods to locate hidden boxes, called geocaches. Come prepared as some paths are steep, uneven and get muddy.