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 all the way through to April.
farndale.community
More daffs to behold…
The Lime Tree Walk at Goldsborough Hall near Knaresborough is a sight to behold in spring, lined with more than 50,000 daffodils. It offers a unique opportunity to explore the enchanting gardens in spring including a charming woodland walk. Free Garden Talks take place at 12noon and 2pm in the Kitchen Garden by the head gardener. goldsboroughhall.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
Helmsley Walled Garden welcomes all. Image: Colin Dilcock Happy days in Helmsley
Spring is the start of the new season at Helmsley Walled Garden. 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.
helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk
Watercolour Workshop
This workshop at 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.
May 17, 10am-3pm
£95, includes a lunch, 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.
April 22
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 throughout spring. 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.
Monthly dates to June.
Book through Tandy Taylor ptthirsk12@gmail.com or call 07988758288.
kiplinhall.co.uk
Easter 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. Come and get your bunny on with this gorgeous new Easter Workshop! The bakery will teach you how to make a super cute and very on trend bento cake with an Easter message of your choice and adorable chocolate carrots. Leave with a cake of your own, but you’ll have all the tips and tricks to recreate it again at home.
April 19, 10am-noon, Harrogate store
£65 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
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 May guides will be looking at trees and what makes them special in spring.
Tress of spring interest, 12 May, 6-7pm
sbg.org.uk
Wildflower walk, Harewood House
Fancy a fun-filled family day out with Easter themed family trails, spring crafts, and Harewood’s Great Egg Hunt? Embark on a family-friendly adventure at Harewood House. 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.
Activities include:
- Colouring Cart
- Bean Bag Toss
- Egg and Spoon Race
- Plus, surprise drop-in crafts!
Available all day, every day – perfect for keeping little ones entertained.
Runs until April 20
Included in entry price, harewood.org
Crack the Easter Egg-nigma code and enjoy fun family activities at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, North Yorkshire, this Easter holiday. This year, children have a special quest to solve* as they search for brightly coloured eggs hidden around the garden. You can also enjoy story yoga, craft workshops and the Guess How Much I Love You™ garden adventure trail.
Runs every day until April 21
rhs.org.uk
Egg-citing adventures
Scampston Walled Garden, Malton, opens its gates again for 2025
The gardens, grounds and pantry cafe will be open Wednesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm.
Why not take part in an adventurous Easter themed trail that will take you around the gardens. There will be a prize for everyone who takes part.
Scampston’s Spring trail offers an interactive and fun activity for all the family this Spring. Leading you on a quest with an activity sheet, you are tasked to solve all the Easter dingbat clues that are located at various points around the walled garden. Complete the answers to claim your prize!
Children must be supervised by an adult. This trail is suitable for both adults and children of all ages with clues for younger children.
More details from: https://www.scampston.co.uk/DB/events-diary/spring-trail-in-the-gardens
Go with the flow
Why not investigate the positive benefits of vinyasa flow yoga at Middleton Lodge, near Richmond, North Yorkshire? In this invigorating flow class resident yoga instructor, Annabelle, will guide you to synchronise movement with breath. The sequence of asanas (poses) will allow you to stretch and build heat in the body, whilst challenging your strength, balance and awareness. After flowing through the movements, you’ll leave feeling energised and aligned, with a clear focus ready for the day ahead.
April 23 and 30, £15 per session, from 6.30am.
middletonlodge.co.uk
