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?

Parks and Gardens UK

 

See below for a list of venues and providers of this kind: 

Nymans

A garden lovers' home for all seasons, with an extensive yet intimate garden set around a romantic house and ruins.
Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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In the late 1800s Ludwig Messel bought the Nymans Estate in the Sussex High Weald to make a dream family house. Inspired by the wooded surroundings he created a garden with plants collected from around the world. Here this creative family entertained friends and family, enjoyed relaxing, playing and picnicking in the garden and woods. Today it is still a garden lovers' home - a place to relax all year round and enjoy a peaceful country garden.

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Robin Hill Adventure Park & Gardens

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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One of the best visitor attractions on the Isle of Wight to bring your school or group to.

The park’s 88 acres give plenty of room for your party to run free and let off some steam, and with its big mix of features and attractions, it makes a whole day out and excellent value for money compared to smaller attractions whose pound-per-hour value is very much smaller. It’s no wonder nearly 16,000 school pupils come through our gates each year to enjoy the park.

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Wakehurst (Kew Gardens)

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Situated in West Sussex and set in 465 acres of country estate, Wakehurst boasts ornamental gardens, temperate woodlands, a nature reserve and an Elizabethan mansion. 

Surround yourself in the natural beauty of the area, join a walking tour, take afternoon tea, or learn about the essential conservation work of Kew's Millennium Seed Bank. With a natural play area for the children, there is something to keep everyone entertained.

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Dyffryn Gardens

Magnificent Edwardian gardens flowing from grand vistas to intimate spaces overlooked by a large mansion
Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Dyffryn Gardens are an exceptional example of Edwardian garden design. Covering more than 55 acres they feature a stunning collection of intimate garden rooms including a rose garden, Pompeian garden and several ponds.

The enormous great lawn is bordered by seasonal bedding and a croquet lawn. There is also a large glasshouse, statuary collection, and arboretum featuring trees from all over the world.

Designed by eminent landscape architect Thomas Mawson in 1906, the gardens are the early 20th-century vision of coal magnate John Cory and his son Reginald.

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Belfast Botanic Gardens

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Botanic Gardens is home to the Palm House and the Tropical Ravine.

The Palm House contains a range of tropical plants, hanging baskets, seasonal displays and birds of paradise, and is one of the earliest examples of a glasshouse made from curved iron and glass. It shows how advances in glasshouse technology allowed horticulturists to grow exotic plant species during the Victorian period.

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Colby Woodland Garden

A beautiful woodland garden and a fun place to be
Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Set in a tranquil secret valley this hidden woodland garden with a rich industrial past is full of surprises.

Spring brings carpets of bluebells, crocuses, and daffodils, then swathes of camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas, followed by hydrangeas and the summer wildflowers.

Enjoy shady woodland walks, the wildflower meadow and colourful walled garden in summer, and the marvellous colours of acers, dogwoods and Sweet-gum in autumn.

Explore the meadow with its lovely stream, stepping stones, log bridge and abundant dragonflies and butterflies.

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Glendurgan Gardens

Superb subtropical garden, with special interest for families
Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Lose yourself in the three valleys of Glendurgan Garden - full of fun, natural beauty and amazing plants.

Discover giant rhubarb plants in the jungle-like lower valley and spiky arid plants basking in the sunny upper slopes.

Wander through the garden down to the beautiful hamlet of Durgan on the Helford River: a place to watch birds and boats, skim stones and build sand-castles.

Find a boat-seat, gigantic tulip-trees and ponds teeming with wildlife. Learn about the Fox family who created this 'small peace [sic] of heaven on earth.'

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Emmetts Garden

Interesting hillside garden with year-round features
Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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Charming Emmetts Garden is an Edwardian estate that was owned by Frederic Lubbock, becoming both a plantsman's passion and a much-loved family home.

The garden was laid out in the late 19th century,  and was influenced by William Robinson. It contains many exotic and rare trees and shrubs from across the world.

Standing on one of the highest spots in Kent, Emmetts Garden offers panormaic views over the unspoilt Weald as well as some great walking opportunities.

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Farley Mount Country Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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A large area of beautiful downland and woodland, including West Wood. The Park is ideal for walking and picnicking, with fine views over central Hampshire, particularly from the interesting monument at Beacon Hill. 

The 'Horse Monument' at Farley Mount

The Country Park is named after the famous monument to a horse, named "Beware Chalk Pit", which carried its owner to a racing victory in 1734, a year after having fallen into a chalk pit whilst out fox-hunting

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Sandwell Valley Country Park

Venue Type: 
Parks and Gardens
Overall Rating: 
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As well as two working farm visitor centres (Sandwell Park Farm and Forge Mill Farm) there are nature areas, an aerial assault course (managed separately), an adventure playground, an RSPB Visitor Centre, woodland, meadows, farmland.

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