Green shoots, sweet treats, blossom, brunches and big walks – it’s time to celebrate the arrival of spring in Yorkshire with a bunch of thoughtful things to do – and some special Mother’s Day ideas, too.
Visit ‘Daffodil Vale’
Make your way to the glorious valley of Farndale in the North York Moors for an enchanting walk along River Dove for a dazzling display of wild colour that carpets a 7.5mile stretch of the river. It’s often said that medieval monks from nearby Rievaulx Abbey planted the first daffodil bulbs here. Depending on the weather, you can usually catch these bright beauties from mid-March through to April.
farndale.community
More daffs to behold…
The Lime Tree Walk at Goldsborough Hall near Knaresborough is a sight to behold in March, lined with more than 50,000 daffodils. The annual Spring Opening in support of the National Garden Scheme will showcase the stunning spring bulb displays that have captivated visitors for years. It offers a unique opportunity to explore the enchanting gardens in early spring including a charming woodland walk. Free Garden Talks take place at 12noon and 2pm in the Kitchen Garden by the head gardener. March 23 goldsboroughhall.com Brontë masterpiece
Dreda Blow and Isaac Lee-Baker in Jane Eyre. Photo Guy Farrow Jane’s stage
Make a date with Jane Eyre in March – not on the moors at Haworth but on stage in Leeds with Northern Ballet’s critically acclaimed Jane Eyre.
It promises romance, jealousy and dark secrets galore as brilliant dance actors bring Charlotte Brontë’s gothic masterpiece to life in this masterful portrayal of Yorkshire’s ultimate heroine. Experience the unexpected twists and turns of one woman’s life from the dreary school room to a towering manor house and the sweeping Yorkshire moors with heart-stirring choreography and live music that captures the essence of her timeless tale.
March 14-22
Leeds Grand Theatre
Northernballet.com
Hockney & the Wolds
Spring and the magic of the four seasons in Woldgate Woods is brought to life in David Hockney: Pieced Together at Bradford’s National Science and Media Museum.
Sit back and be mesmerised by a video installation; The Four Seasons: Woldgate Woods which travels through the seasons in the same woodland lane in East Yorkshire, showing the scene in bud, blossom, bare branches and snow.
Known for his paintings, David Hockney embraced using technology to create his art. Making visual ‘collages’ with still and video cameras, he captures the way we see scenes in real life. These works push the boundaries of how film and photographic technologies can record images with a true-to-life sense of time, scale and perspective. The exhibition explores parallels with his early ‘joiner’ photocollages, one of which was made at the museum and shows the building in its early days as the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in 1985.
scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
The first day of March is the start of the new season at Helmsley Walled Garden which is marked by offering free garden entry to all. There will also be a free guided tour of the garden at 12pm, courtesy of one of the knowledgeable volunteers. The plant sale area and garden shop will be stocked with lots of exciting new additions, and the team at Vine House Café offers a delicious array of hot and cold refreshments.
Gates open at 10am and close at 4pm. Meet outside the Orchid House at 11am for the guided tour.
helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk
Watercolour Workshop
This workshop ay Yorkshire Arboretum is suitable for you whether you’re completely new to watercolours or have some experience and would like to explore new techniques. After a time to explore and have a play with colour and techniques, you’ll be guided step by step to create two paintings to take home with you: an atmospheric seascape based on the coastal village of Robin Hood’s Bay and an atmospheric landscape based on Roseberry Topping.
March 10, 10am-3pm
£95, yorkshireaborteum.org.uk
Herb woodland walk
Join the resident Folk Herbalist Gemma Tetley for a mindful walk around the wild spaces at Broughton Sanctuary near Skipton. Have thoughtful discussions around foraging seasonal wild food throughout as you walk through meadows and woodlands, learning to identify edible plants, medicinal herbs, and discovering some of our wonderful fungi. Along the way you will gain insights into sustainable harvesting, wild medicinal plant uses and hopefully spot some wonderful fauna. Back at the fire, sample some of the wild condiments and preserves that herbalist Gemma has made using some of the wild edibles harvested within the sanctuary, such as elderberry balsamic, pickled rowan berries, pine syrup. Conclude your journey with a relaxing wild plant tea and silent forest bathe. Perfect for nature lovers looking to reconnect with the land.
March 18 & 25
Two hours, £20pp
avalonwellbeing.com
Forest foray
Just two hours of Forest Bathing can have a powerful impact. The effects can stay with you for up to a week. Just slowing down, reconnecting with nature and ourselves helps to open up the senses so we really notice what’s around us. This is done through mindful walking and a few gentle activities that focus on the senses and enhance wellbeing. Kiplin Hall launches regular sessions from March. Forest Bathing started in Japan in the 1980s and is now part of the national health programme. There are enormous physical, mental, emotional and social benefits to connecting with nature and to each other.
March 21 and monthly dates to June.
Book through Tandy Taylor ptthirsk12@gmail.com or call 07988758288.
kiplinhall.co.uk
Spring workshop at Sunflower Bakery
Enjoy the sweetest afternoon as you learn to make your very own bento cake while enjoying a glass of bubbles at the Harrogate bakery. Led by one of their expert bakers, you will make a bento cake topped with a personal message of your choice. Leave with a cake of your own, but you’ll have all the tips and tricks to recreate it again at home.
March 22, 12-2.30pm
£75 per person, sunflower-bakery.com
Sherrif Alpacas, York
Take a stroll through the beautiful surroundings of Goodness Farm with a furry friend in tow. The Alpaca Experience lets you get up close and personal to these quirky South American creatures. Take them for a walk across the organic farm and through the woods all whilst learning more about them and stopping for photos.
Various dates
From £10, sherrifalpacaexpereince.com
Love a lamb
Experience life in the lambing sheds with the farm’s flock of pure Swaledale sheep at Hazel Brow Farm in the Dales. Get hands on by helping to prepare the milk before you bottle feed one of the orphan lambs. There’s also the opportunity to meet the other animals that live on the farm such as the little chicks, goats and alpacas.
£20 per group, hazelbrowfarm.org
As part of the city’s month-long Festival of the Outdoors, head to Sheffield Botanic Gardens for a one-hour public guided tour. Meet at the entrance to the Dorothy Fox Education Centre, off Ecclesall Road. There’s no need to book, you can just turn up. Tours include a range of sites and for March the tours will explore the history of the Gardens.
March 25, 1pm
sbg.org.uk
Canoeing, Star Gazing and Pizza Night
As part of the Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies Festival, How Stean Gorge, Nidderale, invites you to stargaze from a canoe as you paddle across Scar House Reservoir under the moon and stars. Make sure you’re properly fuelled up beforehand with a homemade pizza that you can enjoy in the panoramic glass-floored cafe overlooking the gorge, served between 5pm – 7pm.
Various dates until March 29, 7pm-8.30pm
From £39, howstean.co.uk
Spring sounds
This March, the Ryedale Festival extends its musical offerings with two Spring Weekends, celebrating local talent and welcoming internationally renowned performers.Weekend One is Sounds of Ryedale, highlighting the creativity and talent of Ryedale’s local choirs. The second weekend features the internationally acclaimed Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE). Known for their lively style and authentic performances on period instruments,
March 10-29
ryedalefestival.com
Rejoice for spring
Indulge in a celebration of all things spring in the stunning Ripon Cathedral for a spring festival filled with incredible food, inspiring home furnishings, and stunning garden plants and accessories. This event raises vital funds for the cathedral’s mission to serve the people and communities of North Yorkshire and the Diocese of Leeds, its education programme (including free activities for children in the cathedral during school holidays), music and heritage conservation.
March 29
Tickets, £5 riponcathedral.org.uk
Wildflower walk, Harewood House
Embark on a family-friendly adventure with Harewood’s new Wildflower Walk. Pick up your free trail sheet from the Courtyard and explore the beauty of Harewood’s North Front as you search for snowdrops in bloom. Discover fascinating facts about these delicate flowers, learn the difference between native and non-native species, and enjoy spotting their vibrant clusters across the grounds.
Various dates until March 21
Included in entry price, harewood.org
Wreath workshop
Join local florist Julia Umpleby at The Craft House in Bingley for a Spring Floristry Workshop. Julia will guide you step by step to create your wreath from scratch using a moss base and seasonal plants and bulbs. All materials and tools provided to help you make a fabulous living Spring wreath to brighten up your door or as a table centrepiece.
March 26, 10am-noon
£47.50, yorkshirecrafthouse.com
In this popular workshop in the What Now programme at RHS Harlow Carr, tutor Olive Green will take you through the next part of the gardening calendar providing information and advice on spring seasonal tasks. March and April will cover many garden jobs including cutting back and dividing perennials, feeding and mulching, staking, seed sowing under cover and outdoors, taking cuttings, lawn care, planting potatoes and shrub pruning.
The following weekend, it’s also the Spring Gardening Weekend Event. A must-visit for gardening enthusiasts, beginners and families alike. Discover new ideas, expert advice, and everything you need to make your garden flourish this season.
March 28-30
rhs.org.uk
Charity goodness
The Bothies Charity is hosting the very popular Spring Artisan Fair at Scampston Hall, Malton, to raise funds to support their community work. Stalls will offer a range of handmade, craft and artisanal goods including some made by the charity community.
The fair will take place in the beautiful Richardson Conservatory building, right in the heart of the Walled Garden. The Conservatory will be cheerfully decorated in a spring theme to raise all our spirits. The cafe and gardens will be open and refreshments will be available to purchase. Usual admission fees to visit the garden will apply.
The Bothies volunteers organise events in the conservatory to raise money to fund the hall’s activity programme for school children and adults with learning and other disabilities. scampston.co.uk
Sweet sounds
Head to Middleton lodge Estate near Richmond for an evening of Sound Bath restoration in the peaceful surroundings of the Fig House. As the sun sets, the space will glow with candlelight, providing the perfect setting for a deeply relaxing sound bath experience. This immersive practice is designed to release tension, realign focus and leave you feeling balanced in mind and body. After the workshop enjoy a bramble cocktail.
March 9, £45.
middletonlodge.co.uk
March 28/29
March sees that start of the Anne Lister Festival 2025 to remember Halifax’s own Anne Lister on her 234th birthday!
Hosted by the Anne Lister Society (ALS), the event brings Anne’s story to life and you can walk in Anne’s footsteps, visiting her family home of Shibden Hall – by day, or by night. A large number of the original costumes from the TV series Gentleman Jack will be on display at Bankfield Museum –and this year you can also see some of the costumes from the series on display at Shibden Hall itself.
There are walks, talks,craft and art workshops or take a gastronomic tour of Halifax’s splendid Borough Market. This year’s new events include an Anne Lister Community Regency Tea Dance.
March 29-April 6
annelisterofhalifax.co.uk
