'50 things to do before you're 11¾' at Stowe

Creating wild art at Stoneywell, Leicestershire

Make a mud pie — Get mucky and make a mud creation

Child on welly walk — Splash through the puddles this winter

child taking a photo — Try creating a photo diary this year

50 things 6 — No. 2 Roll down a really big hill

Girl walking through the mud in her wellies — Squelch around and complete '50 things' No. 13, make a mud creation

One girl ages approximately ten looks through a magnifying glass at plants whilst looking for bugs and a younger boy looks into a bug pot at an insect he has caught whilst a mother watches with intrigue — Get up close and personal to some mini-beasts whilst you have a go at '50 things' No. 31, make friends with a bug

A young girl has a wide-eyed expression after eating a sour blackberry. Two younger boys are in the background picking fruit from the bush. — Sweet or sharp? You'll find blackberry bushes at Stowe to have a go at '50 things' No. 21, forage for wild food

A girl carries a pumpkin — Spot some of our autumn bumper crops in the Farmhouse Garden at Stowe

Kite flying in the sky — Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a kite!

Ready for a rip-roaring adventure? Re-wild the children and get outdoors away from the tech and tune into nature. The gardens and park at Stowe provide the ultimate backdrop for igniting imaginations, in a world of lakes, magical woods, ginormous temples and twisted trees. Open daily, 10am-5pm, closing at 4pm in the winter* with free family explorer guides that change seasonally and organised '50 things' activities, we've got a huge array of ideas to get your journey kick-started.

Wild winter activities

The gardens at Stowe, Buckinghamshire, in the snow

Children photograph nature at Sutton Hoo

Children's comments about an egret written in pen in a lined notebook

A girl holding sticks, ready for an adventure.

No. 15 go on a wintery adventure

Enter a mystical winter wonderland at Stowe. Become dragons breathing icy mist and spot icicles hanging from the Grotto and Cascades.

No. 6 go welly wandering

Suit up for a splish-splashing extravaganza down by Pegg's Terrace and Gurnet's Walk near the Rotunda. If you're brave head to the bottom of the Grecian Valley for some serious knee-high puddle jumping.

No. 13 make a mud creation

Bring a small bucket and scoop that gloop! In the winter there's plenty of squelchy mud in the Lamport Garden or head out into the park. Form it into a dome, decorate with some winter berries, ivy and holly for a fun take on Christmas pudding!

No. 34 discover wild animal clues

Head out the morning after the rain has fallen and you'll be bound to find yourself on the trail of animal tracks. Look by the soft verges of paths keeping an eye out for otter and rabbit tracks to name a few.

No. 50 take a friend on a nature adventure

Double your fun by sharing your next nature adventure with a friend. Explore your secret wildlife hideouts together and make the great outdoors your new playground.

No. 48 keep a nature diary

Keep a record of your amazing adventures in nature, capturing your memories of the animals and plants you’ve seen.

No. 12 have fun with sticks

Winter is a great time to complete this challenge: there are lots of sticks around and it’s easier to spot them on the ground. The best bit about having fun with sticks is that you can complete some other '50 things' while you're at it. You could use them to make a mud creation. Or perhaps they can be arranged to create wild art? Can you use them as drum sticks and join nature's band? Or maybe they'll make the perfect pooh sticks?

Spring seekers

Seek out nature's gifts as spring blooms back to life with this sensory guide to help you discover which birds to spot, flowers to find and creepy crawlies to uncover from their winter hiding.

Download the guide now

A family walking along the Temple of Concord and Victory in winter.

A year to make memories

Become a member when you visit Stowe and your money will help care for the gardens whilst you get to enjoy a whole year of family fun.

Membership could change your life

Video

Speaking nature's language

We asked kids what they associate with certain nature words. Watch this video to hear their thoughts and see them rediscover the true meanings of these words.

Top secret opportunity

Whilst your family will be able to have a go at many of the '50 things' activities during the day at Stowe, there is one rare event a year, where your children can complete some of the more elusive challenges. Book a mini-staycation with us for Big Camp and you'll help make memories that you can all cherish. Here are some of those extra special opportunities to take part in:

No. 3 camp outdoors
No. 23 get up for the sunrise
No. 27 go stargazing
No. 40 go on a nature walk at night
No. 49 watch the sunset

Alongside guided activities, our nature team will run sessions of adventuring, crafts, bug hunting, and wild fun to have a go at even more of the '50 things' over the event. Keep an eye out here and on our What's on events listing for when our 2020 dates become available.

The parkland - only for all-conquering explorers

There's so much to do in the garden, but did you know there are 1000 acres of parkland you can conquer on a day out? What's more, it's free entry. Park at the New Inn visitor centre and walk the circular route to get up close and personal with nature. Forage for wild food in the autumn, get to know a tree with our veteran trees (even better if you head down Stowe Avenue in the autumn), play conkers, find funky fungi, find your way with a map, the possibilities are endless!

*Please note the gardens are closed with parkland and New Inn visitor centre open on 24 May 2020. Closed 24 and 25 December.