Wild Weekend 26-28 August
Do you remember the thrill of climbing your first tree?
Wild Weekends are a celebration of the natural things that make the countryside so fun. Build your own brilliant den in the woods then make a tree spirit with clay. Learn how to light a fire without matches. It’s mud pies galore and stream splashing for the little ones. After all that exertion you’ll be ready for marshmallows over an crackling campfire.
Wild Weekend 19-20 August
Do you remember the thrill of climbing your first tree?
Wild Weekends are a celebration of the natural things that make the countryside so fun. Build your own brilliant den in the woods then make a tree spirit with clay. Learn how to light a fire without matches. It’s mud pies galore and stream splashing for the little ones. After all that exertion you’ll be ready for marshmallows over an crackling campfire.
Wild Weekend 12-13 August
Do you remember the thrill of climbing your first tree?
Wild Weekends are a celebration of the natural things that make the countryside so fun. Build your own brilliant den in the woods then make a tree spirit with clay. Learn how to light a fire without matches. It’s mud pies galore and stream splashing for the little ones. After all that exertion you’ll be ready for marshmallows over an crackling campfire.
NEW FOR 2017: Catch a fish then we’ll show you how to prepare it before we cook it for you in the café – so now you can enjoy fish & chips that you’ve helped to catch, a real hunter gatherer experience!
Wild Weekend 5-6 August
Do you remember the thrill of climbing your first tree?
Wild Weekends are a celebration of the natural things that make the countryside so fun. Build your own brilliant den in the woods then make a tree spirit with clay. Learn how to light a fire without matches. It’s mud pies galore and stream splashing for the little ones. After all that exertion you’ll be ready for marshmallows over an crackling campfire.
NEW FOR 2017: Catch a fish then we’ll show you how to prepare it before we cook it for you in the café – so now you can enjoy fish & chips that you’ve helped to catch, a real hunter gatherer experience!
Halloween in the Dales
An action-packed week of spooks and adventure for all the family – in the company of a real-life witch! Spell making, campfire stories, Halloween Trail, pumpkin carving, kids crafts and face painting.
Our friendly witch ‘Old Nan’ and her witch-in-training are brewing up a treat (no tricks!) for you this half term. There’ll be crafts, face painting, spell-making and spooky(ish!) stories round the campfire with toasted marshmallows. A carved pumpkin hunt will lead you round to solve the witch’s riddle and take in the seasonal sights and sounds of the nature trail as you go. Make your own lanterns and enjoy the magical glow as we have a short parade around the woods. Keep snug in the café with seasonal bakes and pumpkin hot chocolates.
Bug Safari!
Step into a wonderful mini-Universe with our very own intrepid bug explorers Roger and Rosy!
Join us on a journey to discover the extraordinary diversity of bug life on a walk around the nature reserve. Nets, vacuums and pots all provided so all you need to bring is your spirit of adventure! Find out why humans couldn’t live without insects. Not sure whether you like creepy crawlies – we’ll convert you!
Go Wild Week
Go Wild Week is a celebration of the great outdoors. Build a den, catch a fish, make a tree spirit – then enjoy marshmallows over a crackling campfire.
Join us during Go Wild Week to build a brilliant den in the woods then make your own tree spirits with clay. Little visitors will love to make mud pies in our rustic outdoor kitchen before splashing in the stream. There’s also a special Wild Things trail to follow around the woods. After all that exertion we’ll light the crackling campfire together so you can roast marshmallows.
Wild About Orchids month
Join us to celebrates the wonderful world of wildflowers. Get close to the wildflowers growing on our nature reserve – including the UK’s rarest orchid. Guided walks on selected Sundays. Part of the Flowers of the Dales festival.
Wild About Orchids month is the best time to visit the Kilnsey nature reserve to experience the wonderful world of our wildflowers and orchids. We are one of the most special wildflower meadows in the Dales, with over 140 different types of flowers and grasses, including our star attraction the Lady’s Slipper, the rarest wild orchid in the UK. With guided walks on selected Sundays, wildflower bingo for little visitors with unsupervised access to the nature reserve at all other times.
Dates for the guided walks will be posted in early April so please check this page then.
Wild About Orchids is part of the Flowers of the Dales festival. To find out more click here.
Life is Sweet
Find out what makes the honey flow at this fun family event. Join us for a weekend of activities celebrating bees and honey.
Join the buzz as we go on a journey to discover all about honey and where it comes from. Little visitors will love to become busy bees (with activities including a Spring Trail, wildflower planting and bee-related nature crafts) before the family makes a bee-line to our cafe for honey cake and hot chocolate. Each day we’ll also be lighting the cracking campfire at 3pm to roast marshmallows.
Easter in the Dales
Enjoy Easter in the beautiful surroundings of the Kilnsey Estate.
Throughout the holidays little visitors can follow the Spring Trail and help feed the lambs (Sat 8 April – Sun 23 April).
Over Easter weekend there’s plenty more to keep the whole family entertained (Fri 14 – Mon 17 April) with activities such as face painting, pony rides, duck racing, and traditional egg decorating and rolling. We’ll also be lighting the crackling Easter campfire every afternoon. Easter Weekend events run from Good Friday to Easter Monday 11-4 every day.
The Spring Trail (with a free chocolate treat for every child) will be running throughout the school holidays. Daily animal feeding at 11.30 and 2.30.