What is it?
A garden commonly refers to the outdoors area that comes with a regular suburban house, but the term covers almost any area set aside for the enjoyment of the outdoors and nature.
What does it involve?
Gardens can involve both natural and man made materials, and can have many uses. Variants include things such as zoos (which were formerly called zoological gardens) which display animals in replicated natural habitats, or indoor gardens with controlled environments to grow certain plants; however, the main purpose of any garden is to provide enjoyment for those within it, and a walk within a garden generally involves relaxation and fun!
Why do it and what are the benefits?
Gardens are great for taking a break in and relaxing for a while, but students (especially the younger ones) will thoroughly enjoy exploring some of the larger and more complex gardens out there! It's also a nice and safe way to get in touch with nature, as most plants and animals you happen across in a garden environment were put there on purpose and will be harmless.
What equipment do we need?
You shouldn't need any equipment for taking students to a garden apart from maybe a picnic!
Who is it suitable for?
Although generally suitable for all ages, younger children may get bored quickly if there's nothing to do! Sitting and relaxing are pursuits you only really partake in as you reach early adulthood, so make sure younger groups have garden games to enterain them, or something similar.
Costs?
Some of the more elaborate gardens you can visit may have an entry fee, but this will usually be a relatively small cost.
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
Because gardens can be physically huge and with many places to hide, large groups of younger children will need careful supervision - especially if there are ponds or lakes nearby.
How do we include?
Since this activity pretty much just involves enjoying being outdoors, it should be relatively easy for you to include everybody!
Doing it abroad?
Some of the most impressive gardens in the world are located abroad, and can take days to explore their secrets!
Main website:
This section of the National Trust website has some great information and recommendations, but always check individual websites for venue specifics.
Oak House in West Bromwich is a delightful half timbered yeoman farmer's house built round about 1630 or earlier.
The Oak House Museum boasts some fine panelling and is furnished with 17th century furniture. The house is set in its own grounds with a children's playground on site which is available to visitors during the opening hours of the museum.
This unique Museum is housed in an unusual 18thC 'Butchers Shambles'.
Situated in the heart of the picturesque Georgian town of Bewdley, the museum offers a friendly welcome and entertaining experience for the whole family.
Sewerby Hall is a Grade I listed Georgian country house with Regency and Victorian additions set in 50 acres of picturesque park. The Hall contains an important collection of Amy Johnson memorabilia and galleries in which a temporary exhibition programme is displayed.
Get creative in our den building area; join a garden, parkland or architecture tour; and explore the family rooms and see how the servants moved around the house unseen by the family and guests!
Situated on a plateau above the gorge of the River Severn, this fine stone house has mullioned and transomed windows, a stunning interior with carved oak staircase and decorated plaster ceilings and oak panelling.
Built and developed over two centuries by successive Stewart kings of Scotland, Linlithgow Palace was a comfortable and attractive retreat from affairs of state, conveniently placed between Stirling and Edinburgh. Both James V and his daughter Mary Queen of Scots were born here, overlooking the tranquil beauty of the loch and peel (park).
Inspired by his Grand Tour, John Bourchier created Beningbrough, an Italian Palace nestled between York, Harrogate and Leeds. The impressive rooms are a perfect backdrop for the rich collection of portraits on loan from the National Portrait Gallery, Beningbrough’s long-term partner.
Begun for Sir John Brownlow in 1685, Belton was certainly designed to impress and across its 300 year history, each generation of the Brownlows left their creative mark.
'That's She! The Only She! Make an honest woman of her - quick!' was how Rudyard Kipling and his wife, Carrie, felt the first time they saw Bateman's.
Surrounded by the wooded landscape of the Sussex Weald, this 17th-century house, with its mullioned windows and oak beams, provided a much needed sanctuary to this world-famous writer.
Basing House has a Museum with rooms dedicated to everyday life in the Tudor period and the Civil War as it happened here at the site.
School Visits
Basildon Park, a Georgian mansion surrounded by parkland, was lovingly rescued by Lord and Lady Iliffe in the mid 1950s. The house you see today is a re-creation and restoration of the 18th-century mansion. They restored the elegant interior and scoured the country salvaging 18th-century architectural fixtures and fittings.
For curious children, a medieval moated century manor house with a 19th century Catholic chapel, gardens, lakeside walk and nature trail. Tire them out first and there's enough for a couple of hours.
This atmospheric house dates from the 15th century and was the home of the Ferrers family for 500 years.
Aston Hall and Park are hugely popular with family audiences and have a full programme of events, activities and trails throughout the season.
Admission charges apply to the Hall only. Gardens, grounds and visitor facilities are free to all vistors. There is free admission to the entire site on the first Sunday in every month during the open season.
The only one of its kind open to the public, this beautiful 15th century Wealden hall house stands in a traditional cottage garden on the edge of the Ashdown Forest in picturesque West Hoathly.
Discover where the young William Shakespeare courted his future bride Anne Hathaway at her picturesque family home.
Explore Trengwainton’s 25 acres and discover special plants nurtured for generations by those with a passion for their beauty and extraordinary story.
Spring comes early here with champion magnolias flowering from February onwards. Peer skywards to see their huge waxy blooms outlined against the sky, or look down to spot snowdrops lining the winding wooded paths.
Designed by Scottish architect William Adam in 1732, Haddo House near Aberdeen is a magnificent example of an historic Scottish stately home.
School visits are available by prior arrangement and can be tailored to suit your requirements.
Set within the magnificent grounds of Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park and inspired by the designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, House for an Art Lover combines art gallery and exhibition space, events venue, café, multipurpose artists studios and magnificent visitor attraction into one unique and inspiring venue.
The Minack Theatre is Cornwall's world famous open-air theatre.
Our SUMMER SEASON of theatre runs from May to September presenting drama, musicals and opera in this most dramatic of settings.
Standing proudly atop a prominent hill, the Kymin and its nine acres of pleasure grounds, overlooks Monmouth and the beautiful Wye Valley.
Once part of the enormous Monmouthshire estate of the Dukes of Beaufort, the Kymin’s fortunes have fluctuated over the last two centuries. Originally a popular picnic site in the late 18th century, building on the Round House commenced in 1794.
Vita Sackville-West, the poet and writer, began transforming Sissinghurst Castle in the 1930s with her diplomat and author husband, Harold Nicolson. Harold's architectural planning of the garden rooms, and the colourful, abundant planting in the gardens by Vita, reflect the romance and intimacy of her poems and writings.
Merseyside Youth Challenge Trust’ established in 1985 is an urban-based Outdoor Pursuits Education Centre (Charitable Trust) in South Liverpool. The City Council provides premises for the Centre together with 35 acres of public parkland.
Set like a lakeside temple in a landscaped park, The Grange at Northington is the foremost example of the Greek Revival style in England. Created between 1804 and 1809 when William Wilkins encased an earlier house in Classical facades, most strikingly the temple front supported on eight gigantic columns.
The most important prehistoric site of the East Midlands, Arbor Low is a Neolithic henge monument atmospherically set amid high moorland.
Within an earthen bank and ditch, a circle of some 50 white limestone slabs, all now fallen, surrounds a central stone ‘cove’ – a feature found only in major sacred sites. Nearby is enigmatic Gib Hill, a large burial mound.
The Seagull Recycling Centre does what it says on the tin -
we recycle domestic waste, run a popular schools education programme called "The Waste Wizard" and run a "re-use" scheme where clean, safe and unused items from industry are recycled into craft products and other resources.
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.