A passion for tradition and impressing guests inspired one man to transform a run-down country house and desolate landscape.
Gardens
Gardens
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.
Venues with this Activity
Ruin of a 14th-century Carthusian priory
Set amid woodland in North Yorkshire, this unusual monastery is the best preserved Carthusian priory in Britain.
Mount Grace Priory is the perfect tourist attraction for a relaxing and peaceful day out. Discover how the monks lived 600 years in the reconstructed monk’s cell and herb plot.
The Chelsea Physic Garden was founded in 1673 by the Society of Apothecaries to study the therapeutic properties of plants. In addition there are many rare plants and a rock garden dating from 1773. New for 2014: enlarged and re-modelled Garden of Medicinal Plants, displaying their past, present and future usage.
The rural retreat of T. E. Lawrence
'I've a hut in a wood near camp wherein I spend my spare evenings' - the words of the legendary Lawrence of Arabia, about Clouds Hill.
The first Belfast Castle was built by the Normans in Belfast city centre in the late 12th century. A second castle, made of stone and timber, was later constructed by Sir Arthur Chichester, Baron of Belfast, on the same site in 1611.
Sadly, the castle burned down almost 100 years later, leaving only street names, such as Castle Place, to mark its location.
Glyndebourne is an English country house, the site of an opera house that, since 1934, has been the venue for the annual summer Glyndebourne Festival Opera.
Make an occasion of visiting Glyndebourne and come for the whole afternoon: you can explore the grounds, visit our Archive and Gallery or have a picnic on the lawn.
The Glyndebourne Gardens and Lake
Much-restored Tudor house, park and garden with notable topiary
The culmination of a lifetime of dreams: salvaged objects and exotic pieces come together in a Jacobean meets Edwardian style. Beautiful, homely, warm and welcoming. We can't put it better than a visitor in the 1920s did: A house to dream of, a garden to dream in.
The Romantic poet John Keats lived in this house and was inspired to write his most memorable poetry here.
The grade 1 listed building is open to the public as a museum and literary centre, where Keats's memory lives on through events, creative activities and special displays.
Leonard and Virginia Woolf's 17th-century country retreat
Nestled in the heart of rural Sussex, Monk’s House is a tranquil 17th-century weatherboarded cottage inhabited by Leonard and the novelist Virginia Woolf from 1919 until Leonards death in 1969.
Get to know Leonard and Virginia Woolf and the wider Bloomsbury Group by visiting Monk's House. Full of their favourite things, the house appears as if they just stepped out for a walk.
A medieval manor house interior, with a rare and well preserved Norman undercroft and a 15th century roof, all encased in brick during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The manor house, or Old Hall, at Burton Agnes was built by Roger de Stuteville between 1170 and 1180. The hall, like the village, was named after one of his daughters.
The Ghost
Impressive ruins of a Cistercian abbey, including its unusually unaltered 12th century church, beautiful vaulted and tile-floored chapter house, and recently re-opened crypt chapel.
Situated in a wooded Severn-side setting, not far from the Iron Bridge and Wenlock Priory.
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is the oldest medical college in England. Its collections relate to the history of the College, and to the physician's profession.
Welcome to Woburn Abbey which has been the Russell’s family home since the early 17th Century. We hope you will enjoy exploring the beauty and history of The Abbey and its treasures, collected by our ancestors, who were as passionate as we are to share this experience with you.
Romantic 16th-century castle with spectacular views
From a former fort to the holiday home of a wealthy Edwardian bachelor seeking a quiet retreat from London, the idyllic location of Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island has intrigued and inspired for centuries.
Family home of the renowned architect Sir Herbert Baker
This delightful Charles II house is an extraordinary example of a Kent country home. Owletts and its gardens have many treasures, especially from when it was home to its most famous owner Sir Herbert Baker, whose architectural influences can still be found throughout the house.
Britain's largest winter garden set within ancient parkland
Encircled by its protective wall, Dunham Massey is a green oasis nestling between the urban sprawl of Manchester and rural tranquillity of Cheshire. While the Georgian hall and Stamford Military Hospital are closed for conservation, the park and gardens are the ideal place to enjoy the crisp clear days of winter.
Outstanding 14th-century manor house and 18th-century terraced garden
Home to the lords of the manor of Clevedon for centuries, the core of the house is a remarkable survival from the medieval period.
The house was purchased by Abraham Elton in 1709 and it is still the much-loved family home of his descendants today.
Explore the striking display of Eltonware pottery and a fascinating collection of Nailsea glass.
An imposing 18th century building set in 180 acres of grounds that were landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown. Hall open for events and exhibitions during spring and summer. The parkland is open throughout the year and free to visit.
Himley Hall and Park is a beautiful place to visit at any time of the year, with stunning grounds where there is always something to see and enjoy.
History on a grand scale - from knights and wizards to gunpowder plotters and passionate collectors
Alnwick Castle is brimming with history to be discovered, offering a range of activities and tours for groups and school visits alike, as well as a host of group benefits.
The castle has provided the backdrop for many famous films and TV series such as Blackadder, Downton Abbey and of course Harry Potter.
School Trips
Iconic Tudor Manor House
‘Logically it should not still be standing up!’
Seeing the tumbling architecture of Little Moreton Hall for the first time, engineers in 1990 could not believe their eyes. Fortunately this timber-framed building, curled around with a scenic moat, has defied logic for over 500 years.
Discover something new
The shell of Appuldurcombe, once the grandest house on the Isle of Wight and still an important example of English baroque Architecture stands in 'Capability' Brown-designed grounds.
An exhibition of photographs and prints depict the house and its history.
A 17th-century grandstand and Cotswold country estate
Lodge Park
John 'Crump' Dutton built this 17th-century grandstand, fuelled by his passion for deer coursing, gambling, banqueting and entertaining.
A classic Norman motte and bailey castle, founded soon after the Conquest to overawe the Saxon town. A later stone shell-keep crowns its steep mound, giving sweeping views across the town rooftops to the River Dart.
Beautiful 18th-century house
There is something for all the family at this warm and welcoming 18th-century property, the former home of the Earls of Enniskillen. The house enjoys a peaceful setting in west Fermanagh, with a dramatic backdrop of mountains and forests. There are glorious walks to enjoy, as well as fine vistas and play areas. There is even a charming walled garden.
A charming Gothic Revival 'eyecatcher' built in 1760 in the park of the Bishops of Durham. It provided deer with shelter and food, and had grounds for picnics and rooms for enjoying the view.
The Bishops of Durham have kept a residence at Auckland since the Norman period.
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