This summer, a Great Garden Adventure awaits at the five Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Gardens, with an action-packed programme of holiday fun for all the family. Discover the wonders of the natural world on an explorer quest around the gardens and try something new with exciting hands-on workshops and crafts to bring everyone closer to nature.
At RHS Bridgewater in Greater Manchester, RHS Harlow Carr in Yorkshire, RHS Hyde Hall in Essex, RHS Rosemoor in Devon and RHS Wisley in Surrey, kids big and small can explore dozens of ways to enjoy the great outdoors between 23 July and 4 September. Dates, times and activities vary per garden, please check the website for the latest details: https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/articles/summer-holiday-fun
RHS Garden Bridgewater, Salford: Saturday 23 July – Friday 2 September
Explore the garden on the self-guided explorer quest every day throughout the summer holidays, and discover a programme of exciting activities for all the family at RHS Garden Bridgewater. The below activities take place on selected days and times, check the website for full details:
Enjoy storytelling and meet the minibeasts with ZooLab
Toddler Tuesdays: welly walks and storytime for 0–4-year-olds
Wellbeing Wednesdays: recharge with a mindfulness adventure walk
Bug hunts around the garden
Birds of prey displays with Wild Wings
Seed planting and craft workshops, including making a bird feeder and bark rubbing
RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate: Saturday 23 July – Sunday 4 September
Go on a garden safari with a daily self-guided trail and reconnect with nature this summer at RHS Garden Harlow Carr. There are plenty more reasons to get outside too, with everything from mindful moments to hands-on crafts and workshops for the whole family. The below activities take place on selected days and times, check the website for full details:
Take a walk on the wild side with the Garden Detectives
Join Nature House for outdoor workshops
Wellbeing Wednesdays: take time out for story yoga
Try to catch a giant bubble with Paris Bubbles
Have a go at the ukulele, learn orienteering skills or get moving with dance sessions
RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Chelmsford: Saturday 23 July – Wednesday 31 August
Adventure your way through the great outdoors on the self-guided garden trail around RHS Garden Hyde Hall, and discover a host of fun activities to delight and inspire the whole family to get out and grow. The below activities take place on selected days and times, check the website for full details:
Settle in for an outdoor performance of Wind In The Willows by the Pantaloons
Get up close and personal with a ZooLab minibeast meet-and-greet
Go on a captivating interactive storytelling adventure around the garden
RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington: Saturday 23 July – Sunday 4 September
Get ready to discover the great outdoors as never before on a daily explorer quest across the spectacular summer setting of RHS Garden Rosemoor. Plus, a packed schedule with everything from interactive theatre performances to welly walks and even a visit from the zoo. The below activities take place on selected days and times, check the website for full details:
Immersive theatre with Hot Rock Productions and Marvellous Eventures
Toddler Tuesdays: welly walks and plant crafts for under fives
Pond dipping for water-dwelling minibeasts and more
Meet the residents of Exmoor Zoo
Family-friendly outdoor theatre performances
Circus skills workshops, face-painting and walk-about characters at the Flower Show
RHS Garden Wisley, Woking: Saturday 23 July – Monday 29 August
As well as a self-guided activity trail and daily craft activities, such as making a mini paper-bag scarecrow, there is a host of interactive fun to be found at RHS Garden Wisley this summer. The below activities take place on selected days and times, check the website for full details:
Immersive storytelling sessions with songs and activities
Hands-on discovery at RHS Hilltop with insects, seeds, plants and fungi
Daily planting and craft actitivies
Walk and talk bug hunts and pond dipping
Make a seed bomb to take home
Bushcraft activities, including wood-carving, campfire cookery and shelter building
Tree-climbing with RHS Wisley’s Arboriculture team
Minibeast encounters with ZooLab
