May half term at Trerice

Planting seeds with the garden team at Trerice

Dress up like a Tudor with the whole family, plant seeds to watch them grow, get some expert Tudor gardening advice and explore Trerice when you tick off some of your 50 things to do before you're 11 and 3/4.

As spring leads to summer and the days get longer May half term arrives at Trerice with a Tudor costume day, storytelling in the second-hand bookshop, #50 things to do before you’re 11¾ fun, games in the garden and Tudor gardener William Wode returns to give his top tips on caring for a garden.

Dress up in Tudor costumes

On Monday 27 May step back in time to the sixteenth century and dress up with the Trerice Costume Group in the hayloft. They'll be opening up their wardrobes packed to the brim with dresses, ruffs and doublets suitable for the whole family. They'll share the costumes made by the volunteer team in two daily sessions 11am - 1pm and 2 - 4pm.

Girl being dressed in tudor costume
Trerice   Cornwall

Tudor costume days

Step back in time to sixteenth century Cornwall with the Trerice Costume Group and try on replica Tudor clothes made for the young lords and ladies of the family.

Tudor costume days

Have a go at archery

On Tuesday 28 May try your hand at archery with Archery GB arrows kits between 11am - 3pm in the mowhay. These are a chance to try the sport at a free drop in sessions and there's no need to book a slot.

children playing archery
Trerice   Cornwall

Have a go at archery

Are you up to the challenge of defending Trerice? Only a proven marksman (or woman) will do...

Have a go at archery

Learn more about the garden

On Wednesday 29 and Friday 31 May at 12, 1, 2 and 3pm Tudor Gardner William Wode will be in the Trerice potager offering sage and often hilarious words of wisdom on precisely how a garden should be cared for, with advice from the first gardener’s manual published in English.

Tick off two of your #50 things to do before you’re 11¾ by helping a plant to grow and making a home for wildlife. On Wednesday and Friday you can make a bug hotel to take home (£2) and on Thursday 30 May you can plant seeds with the garden team ready to take home and help grow – send us your photos once they’ve fully bloomed on Twitter or Facebook.

Children playing a game of Cornish Kayles at Trerice
Children playing a game of Cornish Kayles at Trerice
Children playing a game of Cornish Kayles at Trerice

Hear stories in the second-hand bookshop

Visit the second-hand bookshop to have a go at making a butterfly out of recycled paper and hear stories in one of the scheduled storytelling sessions at 11.45am and 2.45pm on Thursday 30 May. You can also explore the second-hand bookshop where there’s a wide selection of books for children and adults available and the donations help us to look after Trerice.

Traditional games indoors and out

If the weather’s bad make a brass rubbing and try on costumes in the hayloft or play traditional board games in the house. Enjoy the late spring sun and have a go at Cornish kayles, Tudor slapcock or quoits in the garden and on Tuesday 26 May you can also have a go at archery.