Nature Day is back at Gilbert White’s House and Gardens, in Selborne with a range of family activities – and new this year is a Beatrix Potter treasure hunt trail, guided by characters from her books!
All children go free to Nature Day and entrance for adults is £8, this includes admission to the house and gardens. Tickets are sold on the day (May 15). The event aims to help people reconnect with the natural world, bringing them closer our native plants and wildlife through both art and science. There will also be an eco-fair where you can purchase sustainable products and crafts for your home.
Nature Day provides the perfect opportunity to explore the gardens’ secrets. Discover the newts and frogs that lie beneath the surface of our pond, with the opportunity to delicately handle the creatures in our pond dipping sessions. Join our guided meadow walks and be dazzled by the riot of colour from our native wildflowers and butterflies. Test your nerve with our bug hunting activity at our log piles.
In celebration of 120 years since Peter Rabbit was first commercially published, the Garrett Theatre Company will present an interactive treasure hunt trail through the house and gardens for six iconic Beatrix Potter characters, including Peter Rabbit and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle. On finding a character you will hear their story, learn facts about the animal portrayed and be set on a quest to deliver a message to the next character in the trail.
The schedule is as follows:
- 11am-3pm: Beatrix Potter Immersive Character Trail
- 11.30am-12pm: Guided Meadow & Butterfly Walk
- 12.00pm-12.30pm: Pond Dipping
- 2pm-2.30pm: Bug Hunting
- 2.30pm-3pm: Pond Dipping
- 3.30-pm-4pm: Guided Meadow & Butterfly Walk
- 4pm-4.30pm: Bug Hunting
Nature Day is about bringing people together, and as such Gilbert White’s House and Gardens is excited to bring to you a diversity of organisations helping to conserve nature, including Hampshire Bat Group, the RSPB and Hampshire Wildlife Trust. There will also be groups more focused on the wider environment, such as the Selborne Landscape Partnership, the National Trust and the Woodland Trust. At each stand there will be nature-based activities helping you to explore the natural world. After the completion of each stall activity, children can collect a stamp with a prize at the end.
Finally, there is something for everyone at the eco-fair. Neal’s Yard will be selling remedies and organics, Blooming Cow will be offering a dazzling array of flowers, Willow and Crafts will be exhibiting their sculptures and Sage and Ivory will be showcasing their sustainable eco-products, including aromatic soaps.
Tickets can be bought on the day. Doors open at 10.30am and close at 5pm. Food will be available from our café and lawn takeaway. Extra car parking will be provided, follow the signage on the day.
Stalls of the eco fair and nature conservation organisations include:
Hampshire Bat Group
Woodland Trust