Great Green Days Out
If you love nature, our eco attractions offer wonderful adventures out for everyone, whether near to home or on holiday!
Our Great Green Days Out include hidden gems as well as larger more well-known attractions, each offering a unique day out. All will give you an adventure with nature, leave you inspired to live in a more eco-friendly way at home, and be a fun day out for the whole family to enjoy.
Click on the map to find a Great Green Day Out near you today!
Green Credentials
Our members have some great green features at their attractions, use the key below to find out what they have:
Electric Car Charging
Solar Panels
Water Conservation
Eco Food & Gifts
Wind Turbines
Electric Car Charging Units
Learning outside the classroom
Solar Panels
Nature Reserve
Water Conservation
On site waste recycling
Eco Food & Gifts
Biomass Boiler
Wind Turbines
Eco Build
Outdoor Learning
Nature Reserve
On site waste recycling
Biomass Boiler
Eco Build
If you love nature, our eco attractions offer wonderful adventures out for everyone, whether near to home or on holiday!
Our Great Green Days Out include hidden gems as well as larger more well-known attractions, each offering a unique day out. All will give you an adventure with nature, leave you inspired to live in a more eco-friendly way at home, and be a fun day out for the whole family to enjoy.
Click on the map to find a Great Green Day Out near you today!
Based at the foothills of Snowdonia, this is Europe’s leading eco centre that researches and support greener ways of living. With seven acres of interactive displays, eco-demonstration areas, organic gardens and family activities there is something for everyone at CAT.
Why you'll love visiting us
As a pioneering eco centre, the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) has been inspiring visitors for over 40 years. Arriving via one of Europe’s steepest water-balanced cliff railways, you’ll discover a beautiful abundant setting packed full of working examples of renewable energy, organically managed gardens, sustainable woodland habitats and experimental green buildings
Combining exciting practical skills with immersive wellbeing experiences, CAT truly is the home of sustainability education. Join a tour around the visitor centre to dig a little deeper or come along to a day or week long course to explore everything from sustainable woodland management and nature connection to sustainable building practices and renewable energy.
With plenty to see and do, CAT is a great place for the kids! Run off extra energy in the eco-adventure playground, discover a world of green living on family friendly trails and scavenger hunts or come during school holidays for a fun packed programme of family activities, shows and workshops.
With a shop full of eco goodies and tasty treats and hearty lunches in their vegetarian café, CAT has everything you need for a great day out.
Play Area
Dogs Allowed
Free Wifi
Accessibility Scooters
Eco Shop & Online
Vegan & Vegetarian Café
Public Courses
Postgraduate Courses
Exhibitions
Hothouse & Organic Gardens
Forest & Eco School Visits
Nature Reserve & Trails
Lecture Theatre
Accommodation
Eco Research Unit
Water Balanced Cliff Railway
Membership
Mission
CAT believes in a positive future where we have learnt to live harmoniously with nature and to tread lightly on the planet while enjoying the highest quality of life. Their Visitor Centre helps you explore that vision for the future and to learn about ways to help achieve it. Learn about CAT’s project Zero Carbon Britain through trails and activities, discover buildings made with rammed earth and straw bales or explore organic gardens full of ideas to take home.
Explore people’s relationship with plants in the Eden Project’s world-famous Biomes in Cornwall. Trek through a rainforest in the world’s largest conservatory, stroll through Mediterranean climes, and discover extensive outdoor gardens.
Why you'll love visiting us
The Eden Project is a horticultural spectacle, with over a million plants spread across 35 acres of stunning global gardens situated in the heart of Cornwall.
Explore their two vast covered biomes, housing wild landscapes, crops and stories from the Rainforest and Mediterranean regions: immerse yourself in the steamy heat of the largest rainforest in captivity and marvel at a close-up view of the tree tops from our Canopy Walkway. Then take a stroll through the sights and scents of the Mediterranean, where you’ll come across beautiful flower displays and ripening seasonal crops.
Discover their outdoor garden for all seasons, home to some of the world’s oldest and rarest plants. Trek down their Zigzag Through Time and discover the myths and legends tucked away in hidden corners.
Seek out the exhibitions, such as Invisible Worlds, and exhibits which bring their stories to life, watch a live concert or theatre performance, or enjoy the tastes of the food growing around you in one of their cafes.
Tropical & Temperate Biomes
Indoor & Outdoor Play Areas
Exhibitions
Gardens & Art Trail
Dogs Allowed (not in Biomes)
Free Wifi
Accessibility
Shop, Plant Centre & Online
Eco School Visits
Café
Event Theatre
On site Accommodation
Scientific Research Unit
Postgraduate & Public Courses
Membership
Mission
The Eden Project, an educational charity, connects us with each other and the living world, exploring how we can work towards a better future. We create memorable experiences that lead people to care about each other and the natural world and do transformational projects to show what people working together and with nature can achieve. Our first project was to build a global garden in a crater that was once a china clay pit as a symbol of regeneration and the art of the possible. Today we work on a wide range of environmental and social projects nationally and internationally to further our mission. The money we raise supports educational programmes and projects which catalyse change.
Immerse yourself in over 700 species of plants and animals, without leaving the UK at the Living Rainforest near Newbury in Berkshire. You’ll see birds, lizards, butterflies, weird and wonderful plants in our lush tropical glasshouses and see if you can spot our resident Sloth!
Why you'll love visiting us
The Living Rainforest is home to hundreds of species of tropical plants and animals, including Goeldi’s monkeys, red-billed toucans and a two-toed sloth. They have a fantastic plant collections with exotic flowers and super-sized leaves.
After exploring the rainforest houses and Human Impact Building, kids can let off steam in their outdoor play area while adults relax over a cappuccino.
The Living Rainforest is an all-weather attraction, open daily and year-round, with special events organised during weekends and school holidays.
Annual Ticket Entry
Outdoor Play Area
Tropical Glasshouse
Exhibitions
Free Wifi
Accessibility - wheelchairs
Shop
Café
Event Space
Eco School Visits
Scientific Research
Mission
A registered educational charity, The Living Rainforest explores the connections between rainforests, people and sustainable living. Located at the former site of one of Europe's leading orchid nurseries, our rainforest visitor centre welcomes over 80,000 visitors a year. Each visit helps to support the education and conservation work of the Living Rainforest and its partners.
The Living Rainforest's acclaimed education programme welcomes 25,000+ schoolchildren a year. The Trust for Sustainable Living, which runs The Living Rainforest, organises an annual International Schools Essay Competition and Schools Sustainability Challenge, attracting the participation of thousands of teachers and schoolchildren from around the world.
Markshall Estate
Experience our beautiful conservation landscape in the heart of Essex and surround yourself with nature.
Why you'll love visiting us
Discover over 1,000 years of history, explore ancient woodland and visit new continents in our world-class Arboretum. Uncover the power of nature and find out how to protect it for the future. We are a charity on a mission to help people and nature thrive.
With more than 2,350 acres of striking heritage landscape, you can explore miles of ancient woodland, relax in the captivating Walled garden, and find space in our world-class arboretum. It’s the perfect place for an outdoor adventure or bit of relaxation.
Let your imagination run wild in our hands-on play area, made from wood from across the estate, and become explorers as you enter our Arboretum planted with trees and plants from Europe and faraway places like North America, South America and Asia.
And once you are finally all tired out, you can rest up with a nice mug of hot chocolate in our café.
Play Area
Dogs Allowed (restricted areas)
Free Wifi
Accessibility
Shop & Plant Centre
Café
Lecture Theatre
Art Trails
Scientific Research
Mission
We’re here to connect people with nature and inspire generations to become ambassadors for the environment. Through our continuous care of Markshall Estate, we strive to advance our knowledge of the natural environment and to be leaders in conservation, education, research and climate action.
That’s why we stand for:
• Conservation
• People
• The Environment
• The Future
This stunning attraction features the biggest single-span glasshouse in the world. Set in 500 acres of Welsh countryside The Garden has blossomed into one of the most beautiful gardens in Wales.
Why you'll love visiting us
The garden is the biggest and best in Wales and has, as its centrepiece, the Lord Foster-designed Great Glasshouse. Poised in the landscape like a giant raindrop, the 3,500sqm structure is a Noah’s Ark for rare and endangered plants from around the world.
But there is much more to the Garden than the biggest single-span glasshouse in the world. Just an hour from Cardiff, it is set in more than 500 acres of fantastic, unspoilt, rolling Welsh countryside. It has so many features, you may not be able to see them all in a day. These include a unique and historic double-walled garden, a National Nature Reserve, organic farm with lakes, ponds and walks, tropical house, specialist gardens such as a bog garden, bee garden, apothecaries’ garden, physicians of Myddfai exhibition, a theatre and gallery, children’s play area and hands-on fun and games for children. Theyalso have so many events throughout the year from our food festival to many talks and courses for all ages.
Temperate Glasshouse
Tropical Glasshouse
Play Area
Dogs Allowed (Mon & Fri)
Free Wifi
Accessibility Scooters
Shop & Plant Centre
Café
Scientific Research Unit
Public Courses
Exhibitions
Forest & Eco School Visits
Nature Reserve & Trails
Membership
Mission
The Garden of Wales is a charity dedicated to the research and conservation of biodiversity, sustainability, lifelong learning and the enjoyment of the visitor.
With a collection of over 10,000 plant varieties spread over nearly 500 acres, this Garden is on a mission to inspire, educate and conserve.
Explore over 700 acres of wetlands, meadows, wildlife rich farmland, woodland and gardens, including one of the first ever public gardens designed by world acclaimed plantsman Piet Oudolf. Children will love exploring the giant natural play areas WildRootz and Hootz House open all weather and year round.
Why you'll love visiting us
Pensthorpe really is for everyone, it's a great place for nature enthusiasts, tranquil seekers and for children and adults to connect with nature.
Inspired by reports that show children are more inclined to stay indoors rather than exploring outside, Pensthorpe developed a fantastic outdoor expansion to reconnect children with the natural world. This giant 7,000 sqm adventure play area, WildRootz, is unlike anything else Norfolk has to offer. Child-friendly thrills are nestled subtly into stunning natural surroundings with trees and gentle rolling hills managing to encompass over 30 pieces of individual play equipment including the giant 11 metre high slide tower called ‘The Worm’. The adventure continues with the opening of Hootz House, an amazing award winning indoor nature play experience for children that is imaginatively designed and complimentary to Pensthorpe's overall vision of weaving play into education about the natural world.
Pensthorpe really is the place for everyone to come and be inspired by nature.
Nature Reserve & Trails
Five Gardens
Indoor & Outdoor Play Area
Exhibitions
Sculpture Trail
Free Wifi
Accessibility Scooters
Shop & Plant Centre
Café
Event Room
Scientific Research
Eco School Visits
Membership
Mission
Pensthorpe mission is to inspire current and future generations to protect and enjoy nature by encouraging them to learn, explore and play outdoors.
Pensthorpe’s unique mix of inland habitats allows them to promote the study and understanding of native and endangered species within our natural landscape. As a visitor you will be supporting their charitable conservation work which includes habitat restoration, creation and their national breed and release programmes carried out by Pensthorpe Conservation Trust.
Our vision is to be actively involved in conserving the countryside and wildlife in the Wensum Valley with national partners, as well as through our captive breeding programmes, for endangered species including corncrakes, Red Squirrels and Eurasian Cranes.
As a World Heritage Site, Kew Gardens is home to the world’s largest collection of plants, magnificent glasshouses, attractions and 300 acres of tranquil gardens.
Why you'll love visiting us
As a World Heritage Site, Kew Gardens is home to magnificent glasshouses, the world's largest collection of plants and over 300 acres of tranquil gardens.
Visit the five glasshouses, each unique in their design, climate and species from delicate orchids, hungry carnivorous plants, foul-smelling Titan Arum to Britain’s oldest pot plant and a cycad that is possibly the last of its species in the world.
You can enjoy special gardens such as Japanese landscapes, traditional medicine plants in the Queen's Garden and also visit the Arboretum home to over 14,000 trees from all over the world including a fantastic treetop walkway to experience the wonder of the canopy level.
As well as the plant collections you can explore over 200,000 works of botanical art in three galleries and the Hive, an award-winning installation that highlights the importance of pollinators.
To inspire little ones Kew has opened a new Children’s Garden, it’s nearly the size of 40 tennis courts and has been designed by Kew garden designers around the elements that plants need to grow: earth, air, sun and water. Children can also explore the log trail, a human-sized badger sett. There is something for everyone at Kew Gardens.
Tropical Glasshouses
Temperate Glasshouses
Indoor & Outdoor Play Areas
Exhibitions
Art Installations
Public Courses
Accessibility Scooters
Shop & Online
Plant Centre
Café
Scientific Research Unit
Eco School Visits
Membership
Mission
Kew Gardens holds the Earth’s largest and most diverse botanical collection under our care. They are also an internationally respected centre of scientific excellence, identifying and classifying plants; researching their structure, chemistry and genetics; collecting and conserving endangered species; maintaining reference collections and sharing this knowledge with others.
The Eden Project Foyle -
in Development
This stunning attraction will be set within 225 acres of glorious heritage and newly created landscapes including restored walled gardens, treetop walkways, natural play and showcasing best practice in horticulture and agriculture.
Why you'll love visiting us when we open
No Facilities Yet
Using the glorious landscape and gardens of Boom Hall and Brook Hall, The Eden Project Foyle will unite landscape with built heritage and create a series of walled gardens that mixes joyful play with exceptional horticulture.
Drawing on the experience of The Lost Gardens of Heligan and The Eden Project, this eco attraction will create one of the best landscapes for play, creativity and learning, featuring covered courtyards adventure trails treetop walkways and natural slides.
The Eden Project Foyle is a collaboration between local landowners, the local authority and community groups and international partners. Developed by The Foyle River Gardens Trust and led by The Eden Project, with a track record of transforming spaces and communities. It aims to reshape not just the landscape but the social, economic and environmental opportunities to the people of Derry, Donegal and the wider north west.
Currently in the design phase, with a plan to open over the next 5 years, the business plan projections estimate Eden Project Foyle will:
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Generating £62 million economic impact for local community;
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Support over 2000 jobs and 25 apprenticeships;
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Create 8km of riverside trails connecting the site to the city and the Wild Atlantic Way;
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Restore 250 acres of land to benefit the community;
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Enhance 1400 sqm of historic buildings
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Grow 1 million oak trees to reforest Ireland, and
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Bring 400,000 visitors through its door in the first year.
Grant support and donations are essential to realise this vision, please find out more about how you can help fund or support this development on The Eden Project Foyle website.
Our Vision
The Eden Project Foyle becomes a place to showcase future models for best practice in horticulture and agriculture, giving northern Ireland the opportunity to lead a global debate on the future of food and farming.
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Holkham
Aiming to be the UK’s most pioneering and sustainable rural estate, visit and you’ll discover everything from a wildlife-rich nature reserve, beach and expansive parkland to cycle trails, a ropes course, cafes, walled garden and Holkham Hall. All set within 25,000 acres on the north Norfolk coast.
Why you'll love visiting us
Discover sustainability and conservation at the heart of Holkham. The Holkham National Nature Reserve, one of the largest and most important in the country, is home to many rare species of flora and fauna. Guided walks throughout the year are an ideal way to discover the diversity of wildlife on offer.
The beach at Holkham is one of the most un-spoilt and beautiful stretches of sand in the country, voted ‘Best Beach in the UK’ in a survey of travel writers. Four miles of white-gold sand, with shells to collect and pine woods to explore.
Stroll through the deer park, take a walk or explore a cycle trail, visit the woodland play area and see the renovation of Holkham’s six acres of walled garden with its spectacular stand of large Victorian greenhouses.
Visit the ‘Holkham Stories Experience’ which charts the family history and story of farming on the estate. It explains Hokham’s sustainable agricultural practices and how many of the crops grown in the fields today become food on your plate. An engaging film shares the farming year.
After which you’ll need to put your feet up in either the Courtyard Café, Beach Café, The Lookout or have a drink in The Victoria Inn which also serves fresh, local and seasonal meals.
Holkham National Nature Reserve
Holkham Stories Experience
Outdoor Play Areas
Historic House & Parkland
including Walled Garden
Vibrant Events Calendar
Cycle Ways and trails
Accessibility Scooters
Gift Shop
Cafés
Car parking
Accommodation
Forestry & Farming Scientific Research
Eco School Visits
Dogs Welcome Everywhere (Apart from the Hall)
Free Wifi
Cycle & Boat Hire
High Rope Course
Wedding Venue
Our Vision
The North Norfolk coast is a place vulnerable to the effects of climate change, associated sea level rises and risk of flooding. So, our drive to be more sustainable is a very real one. We are focused on:
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Protecting and enriching Holkham’s landscapes, with the goal of increasing natural capital every year and with every decision made.
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Championing low carbon living, with the aim of being a carbon negative estate by 2040.
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Reducing the amount of non-recycled waste we generate by 10% each year for the next 10 years.
The estate also has three bio-mass boilers using woodchip from our woods, a ground source heat pump, a large photovoltaic solar field, and an anaerobic digestion plant producing gas for the National Grid, using maize and rye grown here on the estate.
We hope visitors will leave with a sense of wonder at what we can achieve for future generations to enjoy.
There’s so much to do and discover at Queenswood Arboretum and Bodenham Lake including our new Sustainable Future Centre. Come and have a wonderful green day out exploring this 'green heart' of Herefordshire - whatever the weather!
Why you'll love visiting us
Queenswood is the only designated country park in Herefordshire. It includes an arboretum with over 1,200 rare, exotic trees from all over the world and 123 acres of semi-natural ancient woodland which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Nature Reserve (LNR).
Queenswood features an extensive and exciting range of attractions that are interesting, fun and healthy for people of all ages. Additionally, a variety of special events are organised throughout the year, so keep checking back for updates to our ‘What’s on’ page.
Bodenham Lake is situated in the Lugg Valley, about 2 miles from Queenswood. It is one of the largest stretches of open water in Herefordshire, covering around 50 acres, Bodenham Lake today is an important overwintering and breeding area for wildfowl and other aquatic wildlife. It is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation. More than 160 species of birds have been recorded here while otters are regularly spotted. The lake is also a key breeding site for toads and thousands follow historic migratory routes to the lake each spring. With so much water about, it is also a good site for dragonflies and damsels.
Free Admission
Arboretum
Gardens
Lake
Sustainable Centre
Public Courses
Shop & Plant Centre
Membership
Exhibition
Dogs Allowed
Room Hire
Our vision
Our vision for Queenswood and Bodenham Lake is that the sites will increasingly showcase a range of both conservation and sustainability initiatives in practice.
The work of New Leaf on the two sites will be informed by the best in sustainability practice. We aim to develop buildings, energy generation, food outlets, travel links and use of water and waste in such a way that it exemplifies innovation – inspiring visitors to the sites about sustainable lifestyle choices.
Together with our supporters, we are the proud guardian of 500 hectares of farmland, woodland, and wetland on the bank of the River Thames, including the much loved Wittenham Clumps. Our free to access green spaces are among the most highly visited in the South East, with over 200,000 visits a year.
Why you'll love visiting us
Together with our supporters, Earth Trust is guardian of some extremely special and inspiring places full of nature and heritage. We care for 500 hectares of woodland, farmland, wildflower meadows and wetlands, which receive 200,000 visits a year and are open for all enjoy and explore, free of charge, 365 days a year.
We use these amazing places to engage and inspire people and to demonstrate nature-based solutions to climate, biodiversity and public health crises, for others to use elsewhere.
Our varied and growing programme of events and activities includes guided walking tours, family friendly workshops, formal and informal education sessions and a highly active volunteering scheme.
Inhabited since the Bronze Age, the Wittenham Clumps are one of South Oxfordshire's most iconic landmarks. Standing proudly beside the Thames they offer stunning views over the surrounding countryside. Little Wittenham Wood is one of Europe’s most important sites for wildlife, home to the Great Crested Newt and designated as both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). A majestic woodland in the making, Neptune Wood comprises 10,000 Oak trees planted by the local community to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar. Broad Arboreteum is a living library and home to every tree and shrub species native to Oxfordshire.
We are also the custodian of a number of community reserves in neighbouring including the wetland gems of Abbey Fishponds and Thrupp Lake in Abingdon; Wallingford Castle Meadows A Green Flag site that is both rich in wildlife and medieval heritage, the beautiful wildflower habitat of Riverside Meadows on the banks of the River Thames and Mowbray Fields, an oasis of nature and home to rare orchids on the outskirts of Didcot.
We recently embarked on our most ambitious project to date – the Gateway Programme – bringing together longstanding ambitions to improve our facilities for visitors, extend our educational opportunities, and inspire debate and action about how we enjoy and protect our green spaces into the future. Starting with the construction of Earth Lab (our award winning environmental education centre) we are developing a new welcome and orientation area with longer term plans for a farm shop, a café, and ‘Earth Adventure’ – a playful outdoor area where everyone can discover more about the value of wildlife rich green spaces and the heritage of our landscape.
School Visits
Venue Hire
Courses
Membership
Free Access
Scientific Research
Exhibitions
Play Area
Dogs Allowed
Free Wifi
Trails
Our vision
Connecting people to nature through the power of green spaces
Our vision is a society where nature and people thrive in balance, where people have a deep understanding of their environment, their place in it and their role in caring for it.
For 40 years we have been providing and championing accessible green space and running inspiring,
award-winning programmes to help people connect with nature through them.
We seek new and innovative ways to stimulate conversations about the health and wellbeing benefits of nature; food production and farming; ecosystem restoration; and natural resource management by engaging people in green spaces.
Explore London’s ‘hidden little gem’ of a botanic garden. Enjoy its quirky character, amaze at 100-year old dried flowers and look for beautiful plants and friendly frogs in the garden.
Why you'll love visiting us
The South London Botanical Institute (SLBI) is like nowhere else, hidden away in Tulse Hill in South East London. Enter its doors and you will see a giant clock, a reminder of the Indian heritage of its founder. Visit the historic botanical library, full of both old and modern plant books. Enjoy the herbarium, a collection of over 100,000 dried plants, many over 100 years old and still the bright colours of the day they were picked.
Unlike most other herbaria, this one is open to anyone to visit, for pleasure, art or research. Pass through the little greenhouse, full of carnivorous plants, and enter a small garden packed with many species of medicinal, dye, scented, poisonous and other plants. Follow the Moss, Tree or Edible Trails or take a chair by the pond to spot frogs and dragon flies.
Open every Thursday for general visiting, the SLBI also runs numerous activities for people of all ages, backgrounds and levels of learning, both during the week and at weekends.
Eco School Visits
Venue Hire
Library
Courses
Lecture Theatre
Shop & Plant Centre
Membership
Free Access
Gardens
Scientific Research
Exhibitions
Dogs Allowed
Free Wifi
Our vision
The South London Botanical Institute (SLBI) was established in 1910 to introduce the people of south London to the science, pleasure and importance of plants.
Still based in the original building in Tulse Hill, this historic aim continues today, but with a wider remit than just south London and with plant education for all ages at the heart of its vision: ‘Discovering plants, enriching lives, sustaining the future.’
The SLBI provides a unique environment to help people explore the world of plants and to access green space in an inner-city area. People of all ages and backgrounds attend a wide range of events (including school visits, school holiday activities, talks, walks and workshops) and use our small botanic garden, library, herbarium (dried plant collection) and education facilities. The specialist and heritage resources are free for all to access.
The garden is designated a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation.
This hidden gem set within glorious ancient woodland, on the Kent coast, brings the joy of past and present British wildlife to the public through natural and immersive animal exhibits. Children will also love the outdoor adventure play area where they can let their imagination go wild!
Why you'll love visiting us
Wildwood, near Canterbury in Kent, is a great day out for all ages where you can see amazing British wildlife from past and present. Set in 40 acres of ancient woodland, Wildwood holds a stunning collection of over 200 British animals in natural enclosures.
See bears, wolves, otters, foxes, deer, badgers, owls, wild horses, lynx, beavers, wild cats, bison, squirrels, wild boar, reindeer and many more as you walk around the twisting trails through an ancient British woodland. Finish your day by letting your kids go wild in the amazing adventure play park featuring Kent’s tallest vertical drop slide, zip wire, wild fort, twisting tube slide, pine marten towers and a special area for under-5’s.
Join animal experts at weekends and school holidays for free close-up animal talks and feeds, visit the Beaver Lodge Cafe or enjoy your own food in the spacious picnic area.
Wildwood is not just a wildlife park but also a unique conservation project, which aims to protect native British wildlife and bring back the original wild wood. Find out more about their conservation, education and rewilding initiatives by clicking on the website below.
Natural Animal Exhibits
Outdoor Play Areas
Public Courses
Accessibility Scooters
Shop
Café
Outdoor Learning
Membership
Conservation Research Unit
Mission
To inspire through education, communication and training the understanding and practical conservation of British wildlife.
Lead in native species conservation, rewilding programmes and reverse the loss of British biodiversity.
Advocate for policies, economic systems and lifestyles that promote rewilding and the enhancement of ecosystems.
Operate a commercially successful visitor centre that generate funds to support the above charitable mission.
Step back in time to pre-industrial Britain! Explore how Gilbert White was the first to discover the chiff chaff through song, and pioneered the scientific field of phenology, through seasonal recordings of the natural world in his book, ‘The Natural History of Selborne’ – the fourth most published book in the English language!
Why you'll love visiting us
Nestled beneath the Selborne Hanger, Gilbert White’s House & Gardens is a gateway to the South Downs National Park. With extensive 18th century gardens and a wildflower meadow, you can immerse yourself in the wildlife and landscapes that inspired Gilbert White’s book ‘The Natural History of Selborne’ which has never been out of print since 1789. The book is a series of letters and observations between White and his fellow naturalists, Thomas Pennant and Daines Barrington, exploring wildlife in their local areas and how the species responded to changing seasons (phenological observations). This seminal work continues to inspire scientists today, with White’s recordings being important for those investigating how species’ biological cycles are changing in response to climate change.
The beautifully restored 17th century home displays the original manuscript of ‘The Natural History of Selborne’, alongside an interactive digital edition for visitors to explore. Throughout the museum visitors can also explore the different species that White discovered, including the harvest mouse, chiff chaff and noctule bat, and how White inspired the likes of Thomas Bell and Charles Darwin.
The museum also hosts collections belonging to Lawrence Oates, who was part of Captain Scott’s fateful Terra Nova expedition to the South Pole. Visitors can learn about the science that Scott’s team conducted in Antarctica that is being used as a baseline today. The Oates collection also includes artifacts and species collected by Frank Oates (Lawrence’s uncle), who was a naturalist, and identified several Southern African species whilst travelling.
There is also an onsite café for brunch, lunch and afternoon tea. The delicious dishes include food harvested from the garden. Local produce can also be purchased from the café which acts as a village shop. The original 1765 brewhouse has been reopened and craft beer is brewed onsite and sold in the café. There are also beehives and our beekeepers producing honey for sale. Dogs are allowed throughout the gardens and in the café.
17th Century House
Cottage, Herb & Kitchen Gardens
Wildflower Meadow
Wildlife Pond
Bird Hide
Café (Using Local Produce)
Dogs Allowed (Garden & Cafe
Wheelchair Available
Nature Themed Shop
Nature Themed Exhibitions
1765 Brewhouse
School Visits
Weddings in 16th Century Barn
Free Parking
Free Wifi
Mission
The organisation’s mission statement is ‘To inspire journeys in the natural world.’ We want our visitors and audience to be inspired to go out and discover the beauty of the natural world by observing their own local area just like pioneering naturalist Gilbert White.
We encourage families and schools to connect with the natural world in a variety of ways via our events held throughout the year:
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Activity: Joining wildlife walks in the meadows and gardens, pond dipping, bird watching, eco-friendly gardening
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Science: getting involved in citizen science surveys and attending lectures on the natural world
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Arts: Trying out nature writing/journalling, making crafts inspired by nature
Bournemouth’s new beach front Eco Visitor Centre, due to open in 2022, will help residents and visitors explore and understand the environmental impacts of packaging, waste and climate change on our fragile coasts and seas.
Why you'll love visiting us when we open
Opening Summer 2022, this new Environmental Innovation Hub, built to Passivhaus standards on the seafront at Durley Chine beach, houses a new kiosk and toilet facilities. It will feature exhibition and educational projects spearheading the elimination of single-use packaging along Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s beautiful seafront.
This area has more Blue Flag beaches than any other UK local authority and is determined to create a wave of change to a circular seaside economy where refill and reuse is the norm. Durley Chine aims to connect people’s actions to our oceans, inspiring change that protects this incredible 15 miles of beautiful coastline.
Durley Chine is a showcase for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s development as a low impact destination, where refill and reuse replace single-use. By reducing packaging and testing systems of reuse, the Hub aims to make it easier for seafront visitors to make environmentally sound choices.
Free Admission
Cafe (kiosk on site)
Eco School Visits (Indoor Classrooms and Seaside School)
Scientific Research
Exhibition
Dogs Allowed
Free Wifi
Mission
Durley Chine’s mission is to help visitors understand the environmental impacts of packaging, waste and climate change on our fragile coasts and seas.
Around 2,000 tons of waste is removed from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s beaches every year. The Environmental Innovation Hub on the beach at Durley Chine will take a lead on recycling in public spaces and efforts to educate and change behaviours along the seafront.
For example, if just 1 in 10 residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole refilled a water bottle just once a week, over a million plastic bottles a year would be saved.
