Go wild with the National Trust in February

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/north-west

February half term is fast approaching, and there are loads of activities at National Trust places in the North West for kids to get messy, muddy and back in touch with nature. It’s the perfect opportunity for the whole family to create special memories and get inspiration for the year ahead.

Pull on your wellies and go on a nature hunt in the woods at Rufford Old Hall, become a factory inspector at Quarry Bank or search for winter woollies at Dunham Massey.

Along the way you’ll be able to try out a few of the ‘50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾’ challenges, from building dens to creating wild art.

And what’s more, every muddy day out helps the National Trust care for special places for half terms to come.

Here are some top activities for a wild day out this half term:

Dunham Massey, Cheshire

Winter woollies family trail

Saturday 9–Sunday 24 February, 10.30am–3.30pm

Pull on your wellies and follow the knitted trail around Dunham Massey to help the Finch Family find their winter woollies and keep warm during the winter frost.  Keep an eye out for the birds’ tiny hats, scarves, jumpers and mittens which are lost amongst the trees and bushes as you explore the gardens. You can also spot some ‘Feathery Facts’ along the way, to learn more about birds and their habitats, and encourage birds to visit your own garden by making a bird feeder to take home in the Orangery 12 noon–3pm.

Normal admission charges apply

Find out more at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey

Tatton Park, Cheshire

The Scarecrow Festival

Saturday 16–Sunday 24 February, 10am–4pm

Follow the scarecrow trail around the garden and take a selfie with your favourite resident scarecrow – there are 30 to find! There’s also the chance to join a special deer feeding trailer ride on 19 and 20 February where you can take a trailer ride with the rangers to watch the daily deer feed and get up close to the hundreds of deer on the Tatton estate.

Normal admission charges apply.  £10 per person for deer feed and trailer ride, booking essential through the website.

Find out more at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tatton-park

Lyme, Cheshire

Bugs and beasties & Get sporty

Saturday 16–Sunday 24 February (house closed Wednesday and Thursday), 11am–5pm (last entry 4pm)

Did you know that lots of tiny bugs and beasties make their home in the nooks and crannies of the house at Lyme?  Find out more from the house team as they wake the house up after its winter slumber. Outdoors, you can get your game on and have a go at fun sporty activities in the garden too from 18 February between 12 noon–3pm.

Normal admission charges apply

Find out more at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme

Quarry Bank, Cheshire

February half term: trouble at mill

Monday 18 February–Friday 22 February, 11am–4pm

Head back to the nineteenth century this half term and find out what it was like for the children working in the mill at Quarry Bank. Try out the brand new family story trail, created by children’s author Philip Ardagh, author of The Grunts and The National Trust Secret Life Of…  series, and illustrated by Jamie Littler, to have a go at some of the jobs the children would have done and experience the dangers of working in a cotton mill.  There’ll also be family shows throughout the day taking a comedic look a health and safety in the mill – you’ll be invited to become a Factory Inspector and spot the accidents waiting to happen, while finding out why mills were such dangerous places.  On Monday 18 February Philip Ardagh will be coming to Quarry Bank to launch the new trail and have a go himself.

Normal admission charges apply

Find out more at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank

Hare Hill, Cheshire

Nature walks

Monday 18 February–Friday 22 February, 10.30am–4pm

Pick up a nature pack and explore the fun-filled trail around the grounds at Hare Hill when it re-opens for the new season. Look out for the creepy crawlies hiding under rocks, the pond that’s teeming with life, or the really hard to spot tawny owl. Explore for long enough and you might even discover a secret garden.

Normal admission charges apply

Find out more at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hare-hill

Speke Hall, Merseyside

Half-term family fun

Saturday 16 February–Sunday 3 March, 11am–4pm

Jump into the past and discover Speke’s secrets as you explore with the brand new Sleepy House Mouse trail around the hall.  There’ll also be fun family activities to try, with storytelling and nature inspired crafts.  Outside, follow the interactive Giant Child of Hale trail or run wild in the woodland play area – test your balance on the stepping stones, build a den, climb the mini Tudor house or have a go on the zipwire.

Normal admission charges apply

Find out more at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/speke-hall

Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire

Half-term fun

Saturday 16 February–Sunday 24 February, 11am–4pm

Celebrate the arrival of spring with a walk through the snowdrops at Rufford Old Hall then pick up a wild art kit to flex your creative muscles, build a cosy den or go on a nature hunt in the woodland.  Warm up by becoming a detective and searching for clues on the house trail or borrow a free balance bike and follow the paths through the garden to explore Orchard Paddock on two wheels.

Normal admission charges apply

Find out more at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/rufford-old-hall