Children's activities

Traditional Easter Egg Dying Easter Sunday 31 March and Bank Holiday Monday 1 April 1pm–4pm A crafty way to celebrate Easter. Decorate your very own egg using wax crayons and dyes, and your imagination, then make a 'basket' to carry it in. Adults: free with normal admission. Children: £1
New For This Year – Tractors on Parade! Friday 12 April 9am–11am Join us before the Gardens open to the public for our first ‘Tractors on Parade!’ Meet Big Blue and his friends. Watch the convey as is trundles through the Gardens then see the machines in action. A fun way to round off the spring school break.   Parade starts at 9.30pm followed by ‘meeting’ the machines.  You are welcome to stay and enjoy the Gardens after. No need to book. Just turn up at 9am. Adults: free with normal admission. Children £2.
Painting Pebbles Bank Holiday Mon  6 May 1pm–4pm Using acrylic paints and lots of imagination have fun decorating smooth pebbles with pictures, patterns or motifs. No need to book, just turn up. Adults: free with normal admission. Children:  £1

Forest School

Bushcraft fun for ages 3–5 years – runs term time only and booked in blocks

At Forest School children can discover a love of nature, learn how to use tools to make natural crafts and socialise through outdoor play.

Activities throughout the weeks include bushcraft, making muddy woodland friends, using hand drills, bow saws and peelers, cooking campfire popcorn, log jumping and more.

£50 per carer and child
Spring Wonders 5 Sessions 10am-12noon. Mondays from 25 Feb to 25 March

Bushcraft Days

For ages 7-11 years – run during school holidays only.

(Six-year-olds can book if accompanied)

Bushcraft days are single sessions of forest skills which children love. Activities include natural crafts, fire lighting, campfire cooking, shelter building and whittling skills.  

£10 per child per session, accompanying adults Free.
Campfire Cooking Friday 5 April 10am-12.30pm
Campfire Cooking Friday 5 April 1.30pm-4.pm
Woodland Tools & Crafts Monday 8 April 1.30pm- 4pm
Knots & Shelter Building Friday 12 April 10am-12.30pm Or Campfire Cooking 1.30pm-4pm

Forest for All

Bushcraft Days for children with additional needs. Suitable for all ages

All sessions give children with additional needs the opportunity to experience Forest School and Buschcraft. Activities include making muddy woodland friends, using hand drills, bow saws and peelers, cooking campfire pop corn and log jumping. All children must be accompanied by an adult

£10 per child per session, accompanying carers Free
Monday 8 April 10am–12.30pm For families with Gateway cards, all ages welcome, £10 per child with carer.
Note Do you know a child in Hampshire with additional needs? Get a Gateway Card and become eligible for our family learning sessions as well as other sessions throughout Hampshire. Bushcraft activities may  be changed or moved inside in bad weather or cancelled at late notice due to high winds or thunder/lightning.

Tots ‘n’ Tinies

The perfect way for under 7s to explore the Gardens and discover nature.  We learn and play outside, make something to take home and usually finish with a story.  Places are limited so please remember to book and bring a snack.

£5.95 per child (children must be accompanied by an adult). Price includes 1 FREE adult. Additional adults should pay normal admission.

New Times: 10am–12noon. Child siblings under 2 FREE
And the wind blew! Thurs 7 March Where will the wind take you?
Leap Frog! Thurs 21 March Let’s investigate frogs. This session is held as part of National Science and Engineering Week.
Big and Little Thurs 4 April Mirrors and magnification.
Worm’s Eye View Thurs 11 April Dig it!
This Garden Stinks Thurs 18 April Using our noses to explore.
Paper making Thurs 2 May Collect your own plants and make real paper.
Big and beautiful Thurs 16 May Showy flowers.
Water ways Thurs 30 May Water’s journey
Beetle About? Thurs 13 June Homes for little creatures.
Ring-a-ring-a-rosy Thurs 27 June Nursery rhymes in the garden.

Sessions run throughout the year