What’s On Activities at the Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park

Easter Family Fun – Mud, Bugs and a Dragon Quest 4 – 16^th April 
Come and get your hands dirty this Easter! Join in the daily Tree Fairy code cracking, sculpt a muddy tree monster with clay from the garden, help the Garden Ranger build our first Bug Mansion, and join Dragonella on an interactive quest in search of Dragons Eggs. Activites vary daily see below for further information:

Tree Fairies Code Cracking 
Daily from 4 – 16 April, 10am – 3pm
Can you crack the Tree Fairies code and enter our Easter prize draw

Muddy Monsters Tree Sculpting 
Weds & Thurs  5,6, & 12 & 13 April 10am – 3pm
Get sculpting your own muddy tree monster with clay from the garden.

Bug Mansion Building  
Weekends 8, 9 & 15, 16 April 10am – 12noon
Drop in and join the Garden Ranger building a Bug Mansion – a new home for the insects in the garden

Dragon Egg Quest  –  Monday 10th April

Rumours are circulating that a dragon has hidden its eggs somewhere in the Himalayan Garden. Join storyteller Dragonella to look for hidden signs of magic as you adventure through the garden on a quest to find the eggs and keep them safe. 1-hour interactive timed tours, suggested ages 4–10-year olds, but all ages welcome. Booking essential.

Tour times: 10.30am, 12 noon &  2pm

Tour price £10 per child (includes their garden entry)

Children must be accompanied by an adult, normal entry applies for adults & entry tickets can be bought online when booking the tour. Limited places available, book early to avoid disappointment

Booking : click this link to go to our booking page and choose your timed tour  :  https://rb.gy/twuejp

Dragonella is a whimsical weaver of words known for her engaging original stories; she is fueled by a love of dragons and magic. She believes there is more to the world than meets the eye and enthusiastically encourages all ages to flex their imagination and find wonder with her. 

Coming this year are three unique storytelling events. Led by Dragonella, these guided walks through the gardens will weave the joy of the gardens with the wonder of storytelling. 

All three events will involve time walking through the splendid Himalayan Gardens. Please dress appropriately for the weather and terrain. The trail and stories will last 1 hour. Aimed at ages 4 to 10 but all ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

This spring and autumn why not join one of our Botanical Illustration Workshops with award-winning illustrator Bridget Gillespie.
Botanical illustration is the art of depicting plant forms accurately, to capture their individual characteristics and to aid identification. Suitable for complete beginners to intermediate painters, this 3-day step-by-step course includes demonstrations, individual tuition covering drawing, composition and watercolour techniques. Topics will include observation, drawing, creating form and mixing watercolours. Inspiration for your illustration can be taken from walking around the Garden. 

• Each course costs £200 
• If you do not own your own equipment a list will be supplied for you to purchase before the course begins.
• Tea, coffee and biscuits included each day as well as free entry to the garden. Lunch can also be purchased from the Tearoom. Free parking. 
• Numbers are limited, please book early to avoid disappointment
• Booking essential email: sasha@himalayangarden.com

Bridget Gillespie has been a Botanical Illustrator for over 23 years after taking a degree in Graphic Design. A request to paint a friend’s wedding bouquet led to botanical specialism. Bridget has exhibited in Cambridge, Durham, Yorkshire and London. In 2002, 2008, 2017 and 2018 she was awarded Gold Medals by the Royal Horticultural Society who have purchased several pieces for their archive collection. Bridget also has works in the Hunt Institute collections and illustrated The Northern Pomona.

The garden is famous for its extensive and beautiful national collection of Rhododendrons.

Come and enjoy a tour, talk and afternoon tea and get top tips on how to care for Rhododendrons and the secrets behind the success and challenges of growing them here. Bring a soil sample from your garden and we will test it for its suitability for growing Rhododendrons.  £30 per person (£25 season ticket holder) 1.00pm  – 4.00pm

• Numbers are limited, please book early to avoid disappointment
• Booking essential email: sasha@himalayangarden.com

The garden team work alongside volunteers maintaining the gardens National Collection of Rhododendrons

Learn how to write beautifully using ink and nib on this modern calligraphy course with Sophie Roberts. Suitable for complete beginners this class will teach you everything you need to know starting right at the basics.

After a brief introduction to the tools, you will start by practicing shapes and strokes and then move onto letter forms, learning how to write each calligraphy letter. By the end of the course you will have started to do joined up lettering to take onto work on any phrase, or word you wish. Sophie will be on hand to give you tips and techniques to improve your beginners hand and create your own unique style of lettering.

All attendees will be provided with a Calligraphy Starter Kit, including handouts, paper, pen and ink to use and take home, providing everything you need to start your calligraphy journey!                      

10.00  Talk and demo – meet at the Himalayan Hutt near the Ticket Office
10.30  Refreshment break with tea and biscuits
11.00   Modern Calligraphy
1.00   Approximate finish time, leaving the afternoon to enjoy a walk around the beautiful  Garden 

Price £50

Limited places booking essential, please email :  info@himalayangarden.com