Latest news with #DunhamMassey
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
National Trust summer events: All you need to know
With the school holidays here for some and fast approaching for others, the National Trust has unveiled a host of activities at its attractions to keep families young and old charity has launched its family-friendly Summer of Play scheme at locations including Lyme in Stockport, Greater Manchester, Quarry Bank in Styal, Cheshire, Speke Hall in Liverpool and Old Rufford Hall in Ormskirk, against the backdrop of its historic houses and gardens, the trust is offering adventures from nature games to trails and pop-up sports more on what to expect in your area: Greater Manchester Dunham Massey in Altrincham has a plethora of events until 7 September with themed activities every day of the week until 31 August including arts and crafts, circus skills and and clamber over the Log Pile natural play area and spot fallow deer roaming the parkland. For a moment of quieter imagination, head inside the house and follow Speechly's grand Park, on the edge of the Peak District, has activities running through until 7 Lyme House visitors can play with shadow puppets and recreate the Egyptian adventures of Thomas Legh, an explorer who lived at at the mansion. At the Boiler House, people can attend the Riverlands Silent Pond Disco, curl up with a book in the reading corner and play nature-themed board games. Cheshire Hare Hill in Macclesfield is holding events until 31 tranquil wooded garden is perfect for kids to explore without crowds. Inside the walled garden people can find picnic spots and a big lawn for little ones to explore or see what wildlife can be spotted on the flat, pushchair-friendly Quarry Bank in Wilmslow has events until 1 SeptemberIt has a new indoor play hub with soft play, giant board games, fancy dress and a stage as well as traditional games and outside there is a maze featuring loose parts where children can build their own adventure, alongside nature bingo. Merseyside Speke Hall in Liverpool starts its schedule of family-friendly activities on Monday which will run until 31 games galore in the grounds of the Tudor manor house - from mud pie-making to running races, building and creating, or getting cosy with a good book from the second-hand the historic grounds, let imaginations run wild in the accessible gated play area, build dens in the woodland, or zoom through the air on the zipwire. There is also a sensory resource station in the visitor centre to enjoy fidget toys, ear defenders and other sensory items. Lancashire The Tudor Rufford Old Hall near Ormskirk is staging events until1 exploring the garden in style on a balance-bike to spotting wildlife on the canal, there is plenty of room to let imaginations run can also enjoy an abundance of garden games and self-led activities. Or head to the Orchard Paddock and take part in free sports activities including cricket, rounders, tennis and croquet. Meanwhile, from the Coach House people can collect sports day kit boxes which include instructions, skipping ropes, hula hoops, race markers, beanbags and more. Is it free? While admission charges apply to the trust's sites there is free entry for under fives, carers and National Trust members and no additional charges for Summer of Play events. Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Dunham Massey: National Trust park exhibits nature-inspired art
An immersive art installation exploring nature, inspired by a rare Himalayan flower, has opened at a National Trust of the exhibition at Dunham Massey in Greater Manchester said they had wanted to create an environment "where visitors can slow down".The Origin exhibition, which will run until 2 November, was displayed twice in London last year and has been specially redesigned for Dunham Massey park near 200 Giant Himalayan Lilies, which take five to seven years to flower but produce thousands of seeds, have also been planted in the hall's courtyard. Created by artists Stephen Dobbie and Colin Nightingale from the theatre company Punchdrunk, Origin incorporates sound, storytelling and artwork to explore nature's life cycles and allows visitors to lie back on mats or accessible said they wanted to provide "an experience that resonates both intellectually and emotionally".He added: "In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to lose touch with the deeper rhythms that shape our lives."Our aim for Origin was to design an environment where visitors can slow down, allowing the interplay of sound and light to guide them toward a more reflective and grounded state." Co-creator Dobbie said: "Throughout our careers, we've explored how sound influences the way we perceive and interact with the world. "Here, we wanted to push that concept further - creating an experience where sound isn't just heard but felt."The exhibition also includes work by composer Toby Young, who has previously collaborated with The Rolling Stones and violinist Nicola as a hunting area in medieval times, Dunham Massey now accommodates a Georgian stately home, gardens and a deer park. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
