Spring into action this half-term with the National Trust in Cheshire

Sat 13 – Sun 21 Feb 2016

National Trust places in Cheshire are getting ready for one of their busiest times of the year and the start of the new season– spring half-term.

“There’s a real sense that we’ve turned a seasonal corner” says Trust spokesperson Debbie Peers. “Families want to get out and about and hopefully we’ll have some better spring weather than the perpetual wind and rain we’ve had lately.

Even if it is wet, we’ve got some great family activities, starting with ‘Wellymania’ – bring your wellies and go for welly walks at Lyme (13 – 21 Feb) or Quarry Bank (15-19 Feb) where you can also make ‘welly pegs’.  Lyme Hall opens for the new season on 15 February.

At Dunham Massey, if it’s raining, head to the stable block and get creative with arts and crafts with a horsey theme (15 – 17 Feb). The stables were once home to the horses and carriages of the Earls of Stamford, and are currently being restored, ready for fully opening later this spring.

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Dunham is also home to the UK largest winter garden, which is now full of colour from hundreds of thousands of snowdrops, early daffodils and crocus – a real tonic for a damp spring day”. (Please note Dunham Massey House opens on 27 February)”.

Spring is also the theme at Little Moreton Hall, where the Tudor festival of Candlemas is being celebrated.

“Candlemas was a turning point in the Tudor calendar” explains Debbie. “It heralded spring and light, and was a time of looking forward.

At Little Moreton, the Great Hall and chapel will be’ candlelit’  and you can find out what’s coming up over the new season, as well as playing trying traditional Tudor games  such as Nine Men’s Morris and ‘Fox and Geese’.

For full details of all National Trust places, opening times and activities this half-term go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/days-out/regionnorthwest/north-west