Get Set for Spring with the National Trust

Promotional blog provided by National Trust in York

Easter Adventures near you

This spring, enjoy sports games and hands-on nature activities with all the family on an Easter school holiday trail. Find a different 10-challenge adventure at Beningbrough, Fountains Abbey and Nunnington Hall, all open daily 23 March – 7 April, so there’s time to have a go at each. The trails cost £3 per participant, for an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and chocolate egg at the end. (Dairy, vegan and Free From alternative available).

Plan your Easter adventure at nationaltrust.org.uk/easter

Goddards

Reopening from its winter slumber, the five acres of Arts and Crafts inspired gardens at Goddards are often described as one of York’s hidden gems. With views overlooking the racecourse and the clock tower of the old Terry factory beyond, this is the former home of the Terry family. Spend a few hours in the ‘garden rooms’, imagining growing up in the York suburbs surrounded by beauty and nature.

Plan a visit to the garden at Goddards including how to get there as parking is limited to accessible spaces only: nationaltrust.org.uk/goddards

Beningbrough

Not to be missed are the bright vibrant swathes of tulips appearing in the garden, just north of York. The West Formal Garden adjacent to the hall has a changing annual display, themed and designed by the garden team. This autumn hundreds more tulip bulbs were added to the herbaceous borders to make sure spring starts strong. As you meander, look out for blossom from the fruit trees in the orchard and walled garden; it’s the time of year the pear arch comes to life with bees working hard.

See how the Mediterranean Garden is coming along, planting is scheduled to be in full swing, ahead of opening by summer. And should the odd rain cloud threaten your day out, don’t miss the hall’s architecture and historic rooms along the ground floor, with stories about the people and history of Beningbrough through key pieces of the collection.

Plan your Beningbrough adventure at nationaltrust.org.uk/beningbrough

Nunnington Hall

It’s the perfect time of year to head to the gardens, nestled on a quiet riverbank near Helmsley. The wildflower meadows surround orchards, which produce beautiful blossom each spring. Blossom starts with wild cherries and pears before apple blossoms fill the orchard in April and ornamental cherries take over in May.

Working in collaboration with local schools, social clubs and community groups in Ryedale, Nunnington Hall is creating an exciting work of art inspired by blossom, through poetry-writing workshops. The end result is “poetry blossoms”; origami blossom flowers with their newly written poems inside, suspended from the ceiling of Nunnington Hall’s Oak Hall in a cascade of origami, designed to reflect blossoms on the wind. The installation is accompanied by an audio experience that includes the readings taken of participants during the workshop stage. “Blossoming Words” will be available to enjoy from April until June.

Plan your trip to Nunnington at nationaltrust.org.uk/nunnington

Fountains Abbey

Spring is a wonderful time of year to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal in Ripon. Explore the estate as nature starts to wake up, filling the grounds with spring colours, sights, and sounds. Take a walk around the ancient abbey ruins and delight at the sea of yellow daffodils dancing around on the banks of the west green. Grab a sunny spot outside Mill Café to enjoy a cup of tea and the view over these golden flowers and the abbey beyond. Head out further into the estate and wander along the path towards the Georgian water garden, see primroses bringing colour to the banks by rustic bridge and below the Banqueting House.

Plan your day at Fountains Abbey at nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains

Normal admission charges apply when visiting – or free entry to National Trust members and under-fives.