Children, Schools and Families

Connecting children and families with gardening and biodiversity is an important part of our educational work.

Our Education officer Catherine has run a bi-weekly group for preschoolers and their carers since 2011 called Garden Explorers, as well as running sessions for older children in the school holidays and we regularly welcome local schools to visit the garden and wider estate. The Heritage Lottery project in 2010 helped to fund conversion of old Farm buildings into a fantastic accessible indoor education space, which is surrounded by meadow, has a pond dipping area and raised bed growing space so that children can explore different habitats and take part in hands -on growing activities. We also use the main garden as a source of inspiration for all kinds of activities as well the ancient coppiced woodland at Four Acre Shaw. Catherine is a Level 3 Forest School leader.

Several grants have been secured over the years to support this work, including from the Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust, The Ernest Cook Trust, the Fieldfenn Trust and The Heritage Conservation Trust. 

Find out more about our programmes for schools and families. Our programmes draw from the garden, our rich biodiversity and wildlife, traditional woodland crafts, and our history and collections.