Northumberland National Park Authority is a conservation organisation. National Park status is the highest form of landscape protection in the UK. Of the 11 National Parks in England and Wales, Northumberland is the most northerly, most remote from large urban areas, least visited and least populated.
Parks and Gardens
Parks and Gardens
What are they and what do they involve?
As a type of outdoor activity, parks and gardens are organised areas that usually feature a grassy open space with extras such as mazes, outdoor sculpture and adventure playgrounds. They are different to wildlife/nature venues in that the contents of a park or a garden have been designed for a specific purpose, and
What are the benefits?
Parks and gardens are excellent for ensuring students don’t spend all their time indoors, are great ways to get them interested in nature and the outdoors in a relatively safe environment.
What students is it suitable for?
Although generally suitable for all ages, younger students will probably enjoy the novelty and excitement of parks and gardens more than older teens; however, if there are activities aimed for all ages everyone can have fun!
Costs?
Parks and gardens are usually public areas and therefore free to access, but some privately owned venues may charge a small entry fee.
Safety Implications?
As with all outdoor venues, younger groups should be carefully supervised to ensure they don’t run off!
National Organisations?
Venues for this Category
Blackpool's Winter Gardens first opened to the public on 11 July 1878, with a lavish ceremony attended by the Lord Mayor of London and Mayors and Mayoresses from 68 towns throughout the country. The Winter Gardens has entertained hordes of crowds in Blackpool in its collection of theatres, ballrooms, exhibition halls and public spaces.
Waterperry Gardens are a magical place where you are surrounded by beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers, classical borders, modern planting, secret corners and long vistas.
Home to the renowned horticultural college between 1932 and 1971, the emphasis was on food production rather than spectacular ornamental gardens.
Set in the stunning grounds of Bedfords Park, an historic parkland site of 215 acres, owned and managed by the London Borough of Havering. The nature reserve offers fantastic views over London and into Kent.
A walled, 10-acre garden with over 600 species of plants, plus a holly maze
10-acre walled gardens from 1680. The holly maze is similar to the one at Hampton Court Palace.
Education
Situated 8 miles from Arbroath and 7 miles from Forfar on the A932, the House of Pitmuies is a category A-listed classically-styled mansion house that dates back to the late 1500s, though the grander west-facing front is believed to date from the 1680's and was "modernised" to the 18th century standard some two hundred years later.
Sheltered garden bursting with exotic trees and shrubs
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.
Historic, poetic, iconic; a refuge dedicated to beauty. Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson fell in love with Sissinghurst Castle and created a world-renowned garden
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.
Tittesworth Water is situated near to Leek, on the edge of the spectacular Peak District National Park. Open all year round, we offer a broad range of activities for those who enjoy the outdoors.
Located on the edge of Pinxton the site comprises a section of the Pinxton Canal and wharf pond.
Shustoke Reservoirs are a haven of tranquility with plenty of wildlife to observe. In the spring, the banks of the reservoir are covered in an impressive display of wildflowers, such as cowslips and lady’s smock.
There are a variety of walks including links to the Heart of England Way and Centenary Way. The North Warwickshire Cycle Way also links to the site.
The Upper Derwent Valley is situated in the stunning Peak District National Park in Derbyshire. The area is renowned for its spectacular scenery, with its deep wooded valleys and bleak, rugged moorland. It is the perfect place to enjoy some the UK's most beautiful landscapes and to experience the great outdoors and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Located in just over 5 hectares of space, this park has a modern and recently upgraded play area including splash pads for water based fun in the summer plus football pitches, croquet lawns, a cricket square, a multi-use games area, and a pavilion.
Here we pride ourselves in providing a fun, family friendly environment. Whether you fancy a ride on the miniature train, spending the day playing on our toddler park or adventure playground, even if it’s just feeding the ducks whilst enjoying an ice cream!
The lake can boast a wide range of geese, ducks, water fowl and the resisdential swans. The recent environmental project has improved fishing stocks. There are also herons, gulls and kingfishers that visit the lake along with a host of woodland and garden birds.
A beautiful 20th-century masterpiece featuring colourful borders, a landscape garden and a collection of follies
Woolbeding is a modern garden of two halves, with the colour-themed garden rooms surrounding the house, plus a landscape garden. A gentle stroll over the open pasture land provides views of the River Rother and leads to the ruined abbey and on to the Chinese-style bridge and waterfall.
Please note that all visits to the gardens must be pre-booked.
An unfinished masterpiece
Winkworth Arboretum is a National Trust-owned arboretum located between Godalming and Hascombe in Surrey.
Winkworth Arboretum exhibits large collections of azalea, rhododendron, and holly on slopes leading down to ornamental lakes.
Dutch water garden - a rare and beautiful survival
Originally laid out between 1696 and 1705, this is the only restored Dutch style water garden in the country.
Visitors can explore canals, clipped hedges and working 17th-century vegetable plots and discover many old varieties of fruit trees.
Celebrated garden with an intriguing collection of follies
A delightful series of walled gardens surrounds the charming 18th-century house.
The garden has many original features including a grand water staircase, created by Marylyn Abbott, providing the focal point to the Nymphaeum fountain designed by Quinlan Terry.
Magnificent house and grounds in the style of a 19th-century French chateau
Waddesdon Manor has so much to offer young people: beautiful, safe grounds and space to explore, living history, opportunities for learning and fun both outdoors and in. Highlights include the Woodland Playground, Explorer Trails around the gardens, the Children's shop, and the Aviary.
Tranquil varied garden in fabulous position, with a superb collection of tender and exotic plants
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.
18th-century mansion and estate shaped by a story of love and neglect
Built for the first Lord Berwick in 1785, Attingham Hall and its beautiful parkland were owned by one family for more than 160 years. As their fortunes rose and fell they proved themselves to be spenders, savers and saviours - providing a fascinating story of love and neglect whose mark still stands in Attingham’s rooms today.
Wonderful landscape for walking (and running!), with splendid views and fun interactive games in the Visitor Centre for the kids.
Ashridge Estate is a vast 2,00 hectare swathe of beautiful woodlands and chalk downland at the north end of the Chiltern Hills.
Features include:
Delightful high Victorian garden - an extraordinary survival from the 19th century
Tunnels, winding paths, a Cheshire cottage that turns into an Egyptian tunnel, fish to feed, a Chinese temple, trees to discover and a new woodland walk to play in and explore.
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British schoolgirl assaulted on school trip to Iceland
A viral video shows a black girl being assaulted by a white woman in a corridor.
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The schoolgirl, 13, who attended Harris Girls’ Academy, was assaulted whilst on a school trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. The incident occurred at Hotel Örk, Hveragerdi on 13th October.