[Prior Park. National Trust image Dawn Biggs]
We’ve got the annual Heritage Open Days event coming up next month.
Every September – from the 8th to the 17th – thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.
The National Trust are first in with events for this area – coming up at various locations.
Bath Assembly Roomswww.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/bath-bristol/bath-assembly-rooms
Gather for games at Bath Assembly Rooms Thu 14 – Sun 17 Sep. 12 – 6pm As part of Heritage Open Days, students from Bath Spa University have been working with Bath Assembly Rooms to bring you ‘Gather for games’. An opportunity to explore a gaming exhibition and learn about games from the Georgian period right up to the modern day. Explore this historic building and play games in the Rooms where they were played hundreds of years ago. Price: Free. Booking not required.
Gather for games at night Sat 16 Sep. 6pm – 9pm A late night opening of the Heritage Open Days gaming exhibition with a complimentary drink. Aimed at young adults. Price: Free. Booking essential 0344 249 1895.
Guided Tours Mon to Thu at 10am, and Fri, Sat and Sun at 10am and 2pm Whilst the Assembly Rooms are closed for general admissions, the guided tours give visitors an opportunity to see the ground floor of this historic building and learn a little of the history of the Rooms and the future plans. Price: Free for NT members, £9 per adult for non-members. Booking essential 0344 249 1895
Bath Skyline www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/bath-bristol/bath-skyline Wildflower seed sowing Sun 17 Sep. 11 – 2pm Join the Bath Skyline rangers as they sow wildflower seed in Bathwick Fields. The seed has been harvested over the summer and now it’s time to sow to keep improving the wildflower meadows. The ground will be prepared, you’ll just need to scatter and tread the seed into the soil. Everyone is invited, just wear your wellies and come give us a hand. You’ll even get your own bag of wildflower seed to take home to create a mini wildflower feature in your own garden. Price: Free. Booking not required.
Bathampton Meadows www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/bath-bristol/bathampton-meadowsFamily fun at Bathampton MeadowsSat 23 Sep. 2pm – 4pm Get into nature with a free crafting session at Bathampton Meadows. This two-hour autumn adventure will give families a chance to connect with nature by gathering some leaves and flowers, spotting local wildlife and having a go at some art with clay, words or pencils. Limited spaces. Price: Free. Booking essential 0344 249 1895.
Dyrham Parkwww.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/bath-bristol/dyrham-park
Plant fayres Thu 7, Fri 8 & Sat 9 Sep. 11am – 5pm Help your garden flourish with seasonal plants and decorative garden products for sale at Visitor Reception. Price: Free (normal admission applies). Booking not required.
Heritage Open Day Sat 16 Sep. 10am – 5pm Visit Dyrham for free as part of the Heritage Open Days scheme. The parkland, garden and house will be open as well as the play area and café in the parkland, shop and tea-room. Price: Free. Booking not required.
Dear Future: I Leave This Place To You Wed 27 Sep. 10.30am – 2pm Without gifts in wills, we simply wouldn’t be able to look after the extraordinary places in our care. This special event will take you behind the scenes to see first-hand how your support is helping us carry out crucial conservation work every day, and how a gift in your own will could help to safeguard the future of our special places. Join members of our expert team as they take you on short “behind the scenes” tours of the house and gardens. A local solicitor will be explaining why an up to date will is so important and, over light refreshments, you’ll have the opportunity to chat further to members of the team and learn more about why gifts in wills are so vital to our work. Price: Free. Booking essential 01793 817703.
October half-term spider trailThu 19 Oct to Wed 1 Nov. 10am – 4pm Crawl your way around Dyrham Park with a super spider trail around the 270-acre site. There will be clues and facts about our favourite eight-legged friends to tie in with the half-term holiday and Halloween. The trail will include a prize at the end. Price: £2 (normal admission applies). Booking not required.
Parkland walks Selected days 10.30am & 1.30pm Learn about the 270 acres of ancient parkland on a guided tour around the site. Price: Free (normal admission applies). Booking not required.
Garden walks Selected weekdays 11.30am & 2pm Explore the garden with an expert volunteer guide who can talk through current and future plans as well as seasonal planting. Price: Free (normal admission applies). Booking not required.
Village and tree walks Selected Wednesdays. 1pm These 90-minute walks go into greater depth on specialist topics such as the intriguing history of the village of Dyrham or the background on the huge variety of trees that grow in the garden and parkland. Price: Free (normal admission applies). Booking not required.
Prior Park Landscape Gardenwww.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/bath-bristol/prior-park-landscape-garden
Heritage Open DaySat 9 Sep. 10am – 5pm If you’ve not visit Prior Park before then this is the perfect opportunity. Come and see an 18th century landscape garden designed by poet Alexander Pope with advice from ‘Capability’ Brown, walk the Palladian Bridge and gaze at the reflections in the lakes. Price: Free. Booking not required.
Autumn half term fun at Prior Park Sat 21 – Sun 29 Oct. 10am – 4pm Solve the autumn puzzle at Prior Park this half term. Each station will house something spooky or nature related, find the clue and solve the puzzle to claim your prize. Price: £2 (normal admission applies). Booking not required.
Wildflower volunteering day Sat 22 Oct. 11am – 2pm Come and help us out as we sow wildflower seeds in the Pasture. Make it part of your half term activities and bring the whole family to help out. The ground will be prepared, we’ll give you the seed to sow. Bring your wellies so you can stomp the seeds into the soil. We’ll give you a bag of wildflower seeds to take home to say thanks. Price: Free. Booking not required.
Tyntesfield www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/bath-bristol/tyntesfield
Visually impaired tours Fri 8 Sep, Fri 22 Sep, Fri 6 Oct, Fri 20 Oct, Fri 3 Nov, Fri 17 Nov. 11am – 12pm Learn about the fascinating history of Tyntesfield Estate and use your senses to engage with nature on this intimate and interactive tour. Our knowledgeable Estate Guides will accompany 6 visually impaired individuals (and an accompanying individual per attendee) on a 3/4 mile accessible trail of touch, taste, smell and sound. Price: Free (normal admission applies). Booking essential 01275 461900.
Edible Histories at Tyntesfield Mon 11 Sep – Sun 8 Oct. 10:30 – 3:30pm Something exciting (and delicious) is coming to Tyntesfield this September… Edible Histories; a new arts project as part of the Bristol 650 celebrations. Tyntesfield is one of 5 historical sites across Bristol that will have items that tell the story of Bristol made into 1m-2m chocolate replicas, made by award-winning Bristol chocolatier Zara’s Chocolates. Three medicine bottles have been selected from the impressive medicine cabinet in Tyntesfield House, combining history, sculpture and chocolate. Price: Free (normal admission applies). Booking not required.
Edible Histories talk with Luke Jerram Tue 19 Sep. 2.30 – 4.30pm See the Edible Histories piece at Tyntesfield followed by a unique opportunity to hear from artist Luke Jerram. Price: £20 (normal admission applies). Booking essential 0344 249 1895.
Tyntesfield Halloween Trail Sat 21 – Sun 29 Oct. 10am – 4pm There have been reports of a creature stalking the grounds of Tyntesfield and stealing pumpkins from our display. Can you find out what it is and where it has been taking our pumpkins? Be careful though, we think it could be dangerous… Join us as we search for the mysterious beastly burglar, follow our trail to uncover their identity and claim your chocolate reward. Price: £3 (normal admission applies).Booking not required.
