Gardens and nature in the UK

Gardens, nature reserves and green spaces for slower family adventures outdoors.

Gardens reward a slower pace, and several of these give children a reason to keep moving. Stourhead is a National Trust estate famous for its world-renowned landscaped gardens, with neo-classical architecture including the Temple of Apollo, the Pantheon and the Palladian Bridge. Norton Priory puts history, woodland, a walled garden, a museum and ruins to wander alongside easy walking, play areas and loads of space for children to run. Bruntwood Park is the autumn one: plane spotting, woodland walks and conker picking, play areas and a sandpit, a BMX track and skate park, pitch and putt, and archery. Winchester City Mill is believed to be the oldest working water mill in Britain. The forest-school end is well covered. Wild Acres is a nature forest school playground built for roaming, climbing, building and creating, with mud kitchens, forest swings and events at bonfire night and Christmas. Friends of Nature Forest School runs woodland play, crafts and stay-and-play sessions where nature becomes the playground. Nebula Centre has woodland sessions, holiday clubs and parties, and Little Woodpeckers runs outdoor stay and play. In London, the Bonsai Treehouses exhibition is a green escape with family workshops for children who like nature and design. Arley Hall Gardens, Lowther Castle, Wythenshawe Park, Malham Cove, Moore Nature Reserve, Burton Mere Wetlands, RSPB Gwenffrwd-Dinas, Dyfi Furnace and Norfolk Lavender are listed here too.