Illuminating a thousand years ago

Joint a team from Attingham Park and the National Trust as part of the DarwIN Festival to chase away the dark nights and illuminate some new ideas by creating a mini paper lantern lit with a LED tea light.Join us at the Flaxmill Maltings (Spring Gardens, Shrewsbury, SY1 2SY) as we build up to Attingham�s second evening lantern procession on Saturday 23rd February. These sessions are for all the family and should be booked through the Attingham website. All resources provided.

Decorate a tealight holder for you table at home with this family craft workshop.Use your artistic skills to decorate a tealight holder for your table at home. Light is a key part of the dining experience, with beautiful candelabrum used all throughout history to light the dining tables and show off the wealth of the householder. You can see examples of this in the Made for the Table Exhibition. Adults and children can join in in this family workshop.Children under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Bring your budding young rangers to the island to join our team and to discover how to conserve nature and to learn some bush craft skills.One of our Outdoor Centre rangers will show you how we look after Brownsea\’s habitats and give you the opportunity to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in. There will be a break so please bring your packed lunch with you as lunch is not provided. Spaces are limited, so book yours today. Recommended age 8+, all children must be accompanied by an adult. The island will be closed in February, so ticket price includes the NT boat fare and activity.

Bring your own Lego or use some of ours and see if you can beat \’Capability\’ Brown by designing and creating your own mini walled garden.Why not have a go at some Lego fun in the garden at Berrington? Have a go at designing your own version of the walled garden as you enjoy being inside the \’LOOK!\’ pavilion. Do you think you have what it takes to take on the challenge?

Get a taste of orienteering at one of our workshops this February half term. Have a go at designing your own orienteering markers which will be used in our very own orienteering course here on site. Then join one of our team outdoors and have a go at orienteering first hand. Appropriate for all ages, drop in and perhaps navigate your way to a brand new hobby.

Join Deborah Hastings and the rag rug volunteers to have a go at this age-old art of up-cycling left-over fabrics into soft furnishings for the home. NB there is a charge for materials used.

Spend a day out in the fresh air and play a part in the National Trust\’s important conversation work. Help the local ranger team clear scrub and as a small thank you for your efforts, enjoy a complimentary jacket spud baked on the bonfire.Come along and play a valuable part in managing our cliff top habitats. We need to clear invading scrub to allow diverse maritime flora to flourish. We will have a bonfire going to cook jacket spuds and marshmallows for lunch. Family friendly and a great way to meet new people.

Join us on a seasonal walk to explore our beautiful displays of snowdrops.Join us on a walk exploring our beautiful displays of snowdrops as February reveals a carpet of white across our pleasure grounds.

A walk and talk about the changing coastline at Studland BayJoin a coastal expert for a walk and a talk on the past, present and future of the coastline at Studland Bay. Find out about how the sand dunes, beach and ecology of the bay has changed and what the future holds. Followed by a discussion in the Discovery Centre with tea and cake.

Join our Living History cooks as they bring the kitchen to life baking 1930s dishes.The Living History cooks prepare a selection of 1930s recipes. Enjoy the day with them and take the opportunity to chat to them about their work, their training with food historian Ivan Day, and to discover some secrets of the servants quarters kitchen in the 1930s.

Come and make a bird box with our rangers to take home with you.We will only have 5 of you at a time as you will be using hammers and nails, so you need to book.

If you have time to spare and want to make a difference, there are many ways you can involved in our work.Outdoors and indoors, we have lots of volunteer roles to choose from at Belton House. Fancy joining our team?

Our weekly running group – perfect for beginners.If you\’re tempted to give running a go, but haven\’t been sure where to start or quite able to find the motivation, this could be the group for you. We\’ll be taking routes and setting a pace to suit all abilities, making the most of the beautiful coastal setting of The Leas and Whitburn Coastal Park. All sessions are led by our qualified run leader, on hand to offer advice and encouragement.

Join curators Rosina Buckland, Qin Cao and Louise Boyd as they describe the research that went into the creation of the Exploring East Asia gallery.

Join us for a delicious breakfast followed by an exclusive tour of the house and attic spaces displayed just as Baron Ash intended his guests to view the house. Come and hear the stories behind key pieces of the Packwood collection.

Whether you are new to sewing or have been doing it as long as you can remember, the Gibside Sewing Group meet weekly and everyone is welcome.The Gibside Sewing Group meet every Thursday morning at 10.30am in the main caf�. They\’re a friendly bunch that enjoy a good natter with a cup of coffee and cake, while allowing their creative talents to come to the forefront. Quite often, they will be contributing to a creative project for at Gibside.

Join our Lead Ranger to hear some of the weird and wonderful tales and folklore relating to the surrounding trees whilst walking through the stunning Nymans woodsThe first of our monthly guided walks exploring the many different wonders of the woods as chosen by the people who know them the best. This months walk will focus on the folklore of the woods.

A whole afternoon dedicated to children\’s crafts in our Thatched Cottage.Little people will love settling down to try out a new craft, led by our friendly team of volunteers.

There are thousands of bulbs adding colour to the garden. Come and discover more about their underground world on a seasonal tour of the bulb display.

Wander through historic Prior Park on this free and informative guided tour.This year, we will be embarking on the dams project; multi-million pound works to restore and future-proof the Georgian dams at the bottom of the garden. Guided tours this year will give you a good overview of the project.

Learn the basics of gelli printing and create your own colourful work of art.Use a flexible gelli printing plate to learn how to layer colours and experiment with designs and textures, taking inspiration from Knole Park this spring.Suitable for 12+, anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by one adult.All materials will be supplied in this hands on workshop.You will be working with paint, so you may like to bring an apron to protect your clothing.

Make a home for a feathered friend or two.Our ranger team will help you to make your own wooden bird box to hang in your garden. All materials will be supplied, just bring your enthusiasm.

Discover what went into hosting a Georgian dinner party with these free family activities.Enjoy a range of family activities and learn what went into hosting a Georgian dinner party. Plan a menu, create invitations and learn proper Georgian table manners. When you\’re done, visit the Made the the Table exhibition to see the beautiful silverware and ceramics.

Learn all about the Winn family\’s love of horses and the hidden areas of the stable block that visitors don\’t normally see.Join a friendly stable guide to discover the history of this fascinating building, wind your way up into the hayloft and see the Riding School from the viewing platform as the aristocracy would have done. Tours last approx. 45 minutes and do include several stairs.

Try your hand at herbal tea and pomander making at Tyntesfield this February half term.Warm up this winter with our herbal tea making session and learn all about the amazing properties of herbs. Then, take a piece of Tyntesfield home with you by creating your own Victorian pomander � filled with herbal fragrances of your choice.

Follow the classic books trail through the house, can you find the three little pigs or little red riding hood?Follow the classic books trail through the house, can you find the three little pigs or little red riding hood? Share your love of books and come dressed as your favourite character and join us for storytelling and crafts

Find some light-hearted inspiration for your New Year\’s resolutions with our fun, garden-inspired fitness trail. Stop at various points and see if you can do the hula hoop, skip, play catch with a pine cone or other activity challenges.

Be inspired to \’grow your own\’ with free seed planting this week. Pop along to the orchard and pot up some seeds, then take them home and watch them grow. One of your 50 things to do before you\’re 11�.

Find out more about the parkland that surrounds Basildon Park mansion from our knowledgaeable team of volunteers and rangers a they take you on a guided walk of the park.Join our volunteers and rangers for a walk around Basildon Park. A refreshing way to take in the park, whilst learning about the steps we take to protect the parkland and its wildlife inhabitants.

Blow the cobwebs away with a morning run round the Tyntesfield estate, enjoying spectacular scenery along the way.Open to all abilities – no one will be left behind. Led by members of the Nailsea Running Club. Price includes a cup of tea or filter coffee afterwards in the Cow Barn restaurant.Please note, there will be no Feel Good Friday run on 19 April 2019 (Good Friday).

Learn more about the fascinating house and ruins with our guided tour of the exterior.Find out about the architecture and discover how the Messel family transformed Nymans into their Dream House.

Discover how the cholera disease ran rampant through Dorset and how a family friend of Hardy�s invented the first dry earth closet. Visit Hardy\’s Cottage for an informal drop-in talk with one of our knowledgeable volunteers.

Construct a home for all sorts of creepy crawlies and tick off one of the 50 things to do before you\’re 11 �.

Join us for a free walk in the White Peak this Friday morning. No booking needed, just meet our team of friendly walk volunteers by the visitor centre at 11:00am and go on a 2 hr walk. Dogs are welcome too.These walks are a great introduction to the White Peak area of the Peak District, or simply a chance for fresh air and exercise! Walk routes change each week and may include stiles, slopes and steps, mud and livestock.

Budding Rangers can get their hands dirty helping us to build the best bug \’borough\’ ever at Shugborough.This spring we need your help restoring and rejuvenating Shubgorough�s bug \’borough\’ for creatures of all shapes and sizes.The day includes a session led by our rangers, who\’ll share their knowledge on the estate\’s wildlife and their habitats, as well as a prepared packed lunch for little ones.Minimum age 7yrs (adult supervision required), assistance dogs only. Booking essential, normal admission applies.

Help out our feathered friends at a tough time of the year for them.Our ranger team will help you to make your own log or pine cone bird feeder to hang in your garden. All materials will be supplied, just bring your enthusiasm.

Join a history tour to hear all about Gibside and how it came to be.The vision of coal baron George Bowes, Gibside is one of the few surviving 18th century designed landscape gardens. It was fashioned with two things in mind – spectacular views and \’wow\’ moments. Today it offers a glimpse into the past and the compelling story of heiress Eleanor Bowes, which is packed with tragedy, romance, scandal and triumph.

Wake up our orchard and warm up by the fire!Prepare to make some noise! Join us this February half term to wassail around the orchard, waking up the trees from their winter slumber, banishing evil spirits and ensuring a good harvest.Wassail is at 2pm, Monday to Friday. On Tuesday 20th only, we will be joined by Merrie Noyse, a wonderful group of musicians from times gone by.You can also have a go at toasting marshmallows over the fire all day and complete one of your 50 things to do before 11 �. It\’s good fun for adults too!

Join us on a seasonal walk to explore our beautiful displays of snowdrops.Join us on a walk exploring our beautiful displays of snowdrops as February reveals a carpet of white across our pleasure grounds.

Head into the visitor centre to complete your craft before following our hedgehog-themed trail around the woods.One of Ashridge\’s hedgehogs has accidently woken up early from hibernation and has sleepily wandered outside of his home. Unfortunately, he is now lost in the woods. Follow the trail and help the hedgehog to find his way home. Along the way, learn more about other hibernating animals on the estate. �3 per child

Every Friday, drop in between 1pm and 3pm and meet the conservation team. Plus you can see objects from the Beatrix Potter Gallery collection not normally on display.An opportunity to ask those questions you\’ve always wanted to know about conservation, and hear about how the collection is managed. You\’ll see objects that belonged to Beatrix Potter and are not usually on display to the public, such as early editions of Beatrix\’s books or her jewellery.

Celebrate National Nest Box Week with us! Make your own bird feeder, decorate a bird box to welcome feathered friends to your garden and have fun with the Hungry Bird Trail. Booking essential.This half term, take the chance to make your own bird feeder, decorate a cosy bird box to take home and take part in a family fun bird trail around the park.Booking essential.

From designing the highest quality furniture, to sourcing the latest fashions in wallpaper, textiles and fittings, Thomas Chippendale created a world of interiors for Nostell. Roll up your sleeves and discover the designer in you this half-term and get creating in the Workshop in the house.

We are continuing to work towards \’unlocking\’ more rooms in Polesden Lacey House, guest bedrooms, corridors, & the King\’s suite, for everyone to enjoy.This involves structural work and extensive funding to restore the rooms and will take some years to achieve.The Unseen Spaces Tour will give you a preview of these spaces while the work is in progress and you will be able to see rooms that have never been open to the public before.

An opportunity for you to get involved with the orchard restoration project. The trees have been grafted and are awaiting planting out. Join the rangers for a small talk on the history of the orchard and be shown how to plant your tree.Stout footwear for using a spade essential, gardening gloves advised.�5 per tree

Enjoy a guided tour of the castle this winter.This winter we\’ll again be offering timed entry tickets and guided tours throughout the day to give our visitors the opportunity to learn more about the castle at this quieter time of year.

Discover how to make your outdoor space more wildlife friendly using pine cones to create simple hanging bird feeders that will keep your feathered friends fed and happy. Drop-in.Birds are an important part of garden ecosystems. By installing feeding birds you can make sure they thrive! Drop in event, no need to book.

Tim Laycock weaves together the writings of Hardy and Barnes on the realities of country life in the winter months.The Hard Times of Old England. The folksongs and stories of rural communities living on the edge are powerful, poignant and occasionally very funny. Tim Laycock weaves together the writings of Thomas Hardy and William Barnes on the realities of country life in the winter months.This event is free, suggested donation �2.

Get creative with the Learning Team!Join us for a crafty afternoon and take something special home with you! �1 per craft payable on the day.

Find our play ambassadors in the garden and discover a whole host of ideas of fun things to do during your visit.We\’ll be encouraging our younger visitors to enjoy the outdoors and try out new ways to play within nature during February half term. Come along and see what you can do with our play ambassadors who will be with us all day long.

Celebrate National Nest Box Week with us! Make your own bird feeder, decorate a bird box to welcome feathered friends to your garden and have fun with the Hungry Bird Trail. Booking essential.This half term, take the chance to make your own bird feeder, decorate a cosy bird box to take home and take part in a family fun bird trail around the park.Booking essential.

Borrow a nature pack and explore the garden on our fun-filled self-guided trail

After a brief introduction from a Sutton House expert, explore the oldest house in Hackney at your own pace. Experience Tudor, Georgian, Victorian and 1980s historic rooms. Entry includes access to our exhibition about Clive Jenkins and the ASTMS Trade Union, and a recreation of his office as it may have appeared between the 1950s and 1980s. When you\’re done, enjoy tea and cake in our caf� and explore our Breaker\’s Yard community garden.

Build your own bird box to create homes for wild birds in your garden.It�ll soon be nesting season and the birds will be looking for somewhere to raise their chicks. We�ll provide you with the tools and materials you�ll need to work as a family to construct the perfect home to take back and put it up in your garden to see if you get a feathered family moving in!

Get out and about in nature this spring with our 50 things to do before you\’re 11�Grab your raincoat, dust off your favourite wellies and get out and about in nature this spring. Why not borrow one of our activity backpacks and start the year by ticking off some of the 50 things to do before you\’re 11�.

Join us to experience making pizzas in a traditional clay oven. Bake directly on the oven floor and without a thermometer!Make your own pizza, top it with toppings of your choice, bake it and eat in the wonderful surroundings of Saddlescombe Farm.

Experience Hackney\’s oldest home as darkness falls with a tour led by a Sutton House expert. Learn about past residents from 500 years of history and the many unique ways the house has been used, including as a home to Thomas Cromwell\’s right hand man, a Victorian school, and a 1980s squat. Explore a newly installed recreation of the office of Clive Jenkins and the ASTMS Trade Union who were based here from the 1950s-1980s. There will be time to explore at your own pace following the tour.

Whether you\’re new to running, a youngster or an Olympic athlete, all runners are welcome at Gibside parkrun, a free 5km timed run every Saturday at 9am.It\’s an opportunity to enjoy running in a historic garden where the background noise includes birdsong, perhaps a lawnmower or two, and not much else. The route will take you along the avenue road, past the Hall ruin, through the woodland to make your way back to the beginning. If you\’re new to parkrun and need to register, please visit the parkrun website – www.parkrun.org.uk

Join in this free weekly 5km timed run through the parkland, which is open to everyone, free, safe and easy to take part in.People of every ability are encouraged to get involved; from those taking their first steps in running to Olympians; from juniors to those with more experience; all are welcome. Starting from the Stables the two lap course takes you through Nostell\’s woodland and rolling parkland. You\’ll need to register at http://www.parkrun.org.uk/nostellpriory/ before you come along for your first run.

Join our free friendly 5K family run every Saturday of the year, 9am start. It\’s not a race but a timed run along the same off-road course each week marshalled by volunteers. Supervised children and dogs on leads are welcome to join in too.Register at parkrun.org.uk/Killerton

Join the rangers in the orchard to learn about pruning apple trees.Hands on morning in the orchard learning the art of pruning apple trees with the ranger team. Part theory, part practical. Tools provided.

Have you ever fancied learning the beautiful art of modern calligraphy?At this beginners workshop, calligraphy expert Judy Broad will teach you how to use a dip pen and ink, and help you develop your own modern lettering style.There will be plenty of time for one to one instruction and all the materials you will need are included.

With little food available in winter, families relied on preserves from the summer harvest and whatever would grow in the garden. Sample Victorian recipes made from the most basic ingredients. You may find carrot jam to be surprisingly tasty…

Explore Knole Park and learn about its ancient and majestic trees.Join our guides for a walk to the boundaries of the park. Explore the woodland, learn about the ancient trees spread across the landscape and experience different views of the park and house.

Join curators Margaret Maitland and Dan Potter as they discuss the Ancient Egypt Rediscovered gallery.

Pull on your wellies and wrap up warm for a story walk not to be missed!Join Eden as he takes you and your family on a soundscape adventure through the gardens. Create sounds as you go and become part of this wintry story.

Vocalist Rebecca Grace and pianist Ann Jones perform a duet of English music from Elgar�s lifetime. Quintessentially Elgarian!

Step back in time to the 1940s, and join the land girls and home guard for a good old-fashioned tea dance.It\’s 1940 and you must take shelter from the air raid in Calke\’s Riding School – you\’ll find the land girls jiving away with the Home Guard and you can join in with the conga and the hokey cokey.

Build a nest for an animal of your choicePrepare your garden or school grounds for spring by building a home for wildlife. Join Rangers to build a bird, bat or bug box to take away with you.

Find out what happened?In this 10 mile walk you\’ll hear how a brewer\’s family dream of a grouse moor was short lived when Oldham bought the land for water reservoirs.

A more natural and outdoor take on the traditional Valentines Day mealThis Valentines day, why not try something different with a romantic Champagne hamper at beautiful Studland Bay. Enjoy a spectacular picnic hamper, a bottle of champagne and our roaring outdoor fire. Ticket is for a meal for two.

Discover how to get the best out of your camera with these photography workshops with Pandora. Learn the basics in an inspiring setting or discover how to capture the perfect landscape.Get snappy with photography workshops at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. Choose from the beginners \’get off auto\’ course to her \’developing skills\’ and \’introduction to landscape photography\’ courses. Visit her website goingdigital.co.uk or ring for more information.

Fall in love with the Georgians at Berrington, as we share stories of eighteenth century love and romance.Come to Berrington this February to learn more about Berrington\’s love stories, or find a secluded spot in the gardens to enjoy this special place with your loved one.You can also discover about how we\’re continuing to care for Berrington today, with intrinsic Dome repairs inside the mansion, and our ambitious walled garden restoration project which aims to revive this significant Brownian gem back to its Georgian origins.

Bring your lantern (make your own over February half term at our lantern making workshops at Attingham or as part of the Shrewsbury Darwin Festival) and join our lantern procession through the Attingham woodland at night.Join the procession through the Attingham woods at night as it follows the lantern lit trail around the mile walk. The procession will leave the Stables Courtyard at 7pm. Keep an eye out for our snowdrops around the walk -it\’s a great time of year to see them in a different light.

See new acquisitions from across the museum’s collections, from the skull of a killer whale to cutting-edge ceramic design and beautiful 19th and 20th century Japanese ceramics.0

See new acquisitions from across the museum�s collections, from the skull of a killer whale to cutting-edge ceramic design and beautiful 19th and 20th century Japanese ceramics.

Gibside is delighted to host Great Run Local who organise free weekly 2km and 5km timed runs that are open to everyone and are safe and easy to take part in.The runs will take place at Gibside each Sunday throughout the year. To find out more about Great Run Local and to register please visit the Great Run Local website – www.greatrunlocal.org

Get out and discover Hanbury\’s park this winter.Walk off those seasonal indulgences, enjoy beautiful views and learn more about the history and ongoing restoration of the park from our knowledgeable guides.

Fact meets fiction on our family fun trail.A chance for your family to discover the history behind Gibbett Hill, the Devil\’s Punch Bowl, the sailors stone and more… There�s plenty of space to run, jump and play around and always something for families to do.As well as challenging yourself with our half-term trail, you can explore our natural play trail and finish the day with a hot chocolate and a slice of cake at our caf�.

Walk to the Outdoor Centre where you will find tasty treats to be toasted on an open campfire. What could be better on a crisp winters day?

Prized Possessions celebrates the enduring British taste for collecting Dutch paintings and explores how and why this style of Art was desired, commissioned and displayed.The Trust cares for one of the largest and most significant collections of art in the UK including many important seventeenth-century Dutch paintings acquired by country house owners for over 300 years. The exhibition includes works by celebrated artists such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Peter Lely, Gabriel Metsu and Cornelis de Heem.

If these walls could talk…Join one of our knowledgeable guides as they bring to life the dramatic history of this fascinating building.

Are you up for exploring both Finch Foundry and Lydford Gorge with all five senses?Pick up an explorer sheet and tick off textures, sounds, sights, smells and tastes to collect a sticker at both sites and win your sensory explorer badge.

See the Attingham fallow deer herd up close as we feed them their winter rations.The eighth Lord Berwick loved his fallow deer herd so much he would often feed them himself – watch us continue this tradition over the winter months. We\’ll be feeding the deer to help them through the winter every weekend at 2pm in the deer park, and daily in the Shropshire February half-term school holidays (excluding Christmas Day).

Wrap up warm and get outdoors with our children�s trail.Children will have fun exploring Cliveden estate on this February half-term trail. At the end of the trail little ones will make their own craft to take home.All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Enjoy one of our delicious carvery lunches in the stables caf�.Enjoy one of our delicious Sunday roast lunches in the stables caf�. Made using local produce, much of it grown in our very own Kitchen Garden, it\’s the perfect way to warm up after your winter walk and treat yourself after exploring everything…

Come and warm up by the log fire in the Entrance Hall – there\’ll be board games for you to play, and our volunteers will be on hand to share Stourhead\’s history with you.

Wrap up warm and get out and about on the Cotehele estate on this fun free trail.

Get the kids out and about in the great outdoors this half term and complete one of our garden trails, aimed to help kids tick of some of their 50 things to do before they\’re 11 3/4

Wrap up warm and spend some family time in the outdoors with this wildlife trailPick up a wildlife trail and become a naturalist for the day. Trek the parkland route and discover which animals call Belton home over winter. There\’s a free badge for all great explorers!

During February half term, put on your wellies and join our Muddy Explorers Trail to embrace this squelchy time of year!During February half term, put on your wellies and join our Muddy Explorers Trail to embrace this squelchy time of year! Bring the kids and get some fresh air joining in our challenges and discovering something new. Complete the trail together and claim your victory sticker.

This half-term come and a make a simple feeder to encourage birds into your garden.Its all about nature this half-term and spring is a busy time in for birds. Come and make a bird feeder in our potting shed that you can put up in your garden to encourage feather friends.

We are re-opening for the new season. Come along for a fun family day out.Join us this February half term for a fun day out. We\’ve got a special trail, craft activities for children and you\’ve got the chance to meet Chedworths\’ Romans. Look out for the children\’s mosaic workshop on Thursday 21 February – more information is available on our website.

Enjoy one of our delicious Sunday roast lunches in the stables caf�. Made using local produce, much of it grown in our very own Kitchen Garden, it\’s the perfect way to warm up after your winter walk and treat yourself after exploring everything that Knightshayes has to offer.

Follow the classic books trail through the house, can you find the three little pigs or little red riding hood?Follow the classic books trail through the house, can you find the three little pigs or little red riding hood? Share your love of books and come dressed as your favourite character and join us for storytelling and crafts

This 10 minute talk introduces the Dawsons, a middle class couple from Liverpool, who built Wray Castle and made a new life in the Lake District.James and Margaret Dawson were a middle-class couple, products of the Industrial Revolution in Liverpool. Upon retirement, and after inheriting a large amount of money, they built a statement home in the Lake District. In this short talk, you\’ll hear about the building of Wray Castle and it\’s estate, and about their life there.