Great Dixter is a magical place for families to visit. The garden has lots of high hedges, wild plants, bright colours and insects to inspire young imaginations. You can download our garden map here and check out our health and safety information so that you are aware of things to watch out for when you come.  

If you want to know more about family activities at Great Dixter please contact Jane: [email protected]

Garden Explorers

Garden Explorers is an adventurous group for toddlers and carers which takes place each Thursday and Friday morning at Great Dixter between 9:30 and 11:30 (10-12 during the school holidays), based from our education centre at Dixter Farm. Sessions are based around seasonal activity in the garden and on the estate, from seed planting and cooking using vegetables we have harvested from the garden, to minibeast hunts, having fires in the woods and making musical instruments. Sessions are currently run by Education Officer Jane whilst Catherine is on maternity leave, with special guest appearances from time to time.

There is usually a story and a walk, and always a drink and a snack (which we usually make during the session) with an all essential (proper) coffee for the adults.

   

Garden explorers is suitable for walking toddlers (though little legs with less stamina may find the woods trips a bit of a long journey so carers may need to do some carrying). Younger siblings are welcome so long as buggies are robust enough to make it down to the woods and carers willing to push or carry.  We go out in all weathers and quite often end up messy so suitable clothing is essential!

Booking in advance is essential and can be done from 9pm the evening before the session.

Each session costs £5.00 per child (not including booking fee). Siblings are half price. Accompanying adults and babies are free

Please note that parents or carers are responsible for direct supervision of children. 

To book a place join our mailing list here where ticket info is emailed prior to the sessions. For more info email [email protected]

All activities are risk assessed. Please ensure that you provide the education officer Jane Wigan with any specific needs for your child. 

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It’s the summer holidays!

We will be running sessions for primary age children on 11^th, 12^th and 18^th August, 10am-12pm. Siblings are welcome to join  and details for each session, and how to book, can be found below.

I recently had the opportunity to see our Head Gardener, Fergus Garrett, in conversation with Dave Goulson, at the Charleston Festival of the Garden, talking about encouraging biodiversity in our gardens. Dave visited Great Dixter last year and was impressed by the number of bees and other insects that were flying around. You can watch a video of his visit here: Rewild your garden - ideas from Great Dixter, an inspiring semi-wild garden - YouTube

All the gardeners and staff at Great Dixter would love to see mini Dixters being created in gardens across the UK, spaces where wildlife can thrive. With this in mind, our holiday activities will focus on creating homes for our smaller friends. You could take these home and become a citizen scientist by joining Dave’s Buzz Club Wildlife Gardening & Science | The Buzz Club | United Kingdom
 
Thursday 11^th and Friday 12^th August: 10am-12pm

Please bring an empty plastic milk carton. (The bigger the better!)

Come and find us in the Education Room at Dixter Farm to mix ingredients for lemon drizzle cake.

We will then head to the garden in search of hoverflies. There are over 250 different types with some looking rather like bees. You may want to sit still in front of the flower beds until  they arrive.

Back in the education room, we will enjoy some cake before creating Hoverfly Lagoons to take home and observe over the coming months. Hoverfly Lagoons | Buzz Club (thebuzzclub.uk)

For Thursday 11^th book here: https://buytickets.at/greatdixtergardenexplorers/736095

and for Friday 12^th book here: https://buytickets.at/greatdixtergardenexplorers/736099
 
Thursday, 18^th August: 10am-12pm

Please bring an empty plastic drinks bottle if you have one left over.

Come and find us in the Education Room at Dixter Farm to make honey cake.

We will then head up to the garden in search of spaces where solitary bees might be living. This could be the hollow stems of plants, between paving stones, bare patches of earth, the thatch on the roof of the Great Barn and holes in wooden posts and dead wood.

Back in the education room, we will create our own solitary bee homes to take home ready to put out next Spring.
Book your ticket for Thursday 18^th here: https://buytickets.at/greatdixtergardenexplorers/736100

At this busy time of year, please ensure you park considerately as space in the car parks is limited and remember that, once in the garden, we stick to the pathways at all times.

See you at the farm!
Jane 


Information for new Garden Explorers: 
There are baby changing facilities in the education room and the White Barn, next to the ticket office. There is lots of room for buggies inside the education room but when in the garden we leave them by the ticket office and stick to the paths at all times.

Covid Guidance
The education room will be kept well ventilated at all times. We ask that you do not attend the session if you have any Covid symptoms (cold symptoms, sneezing loss of taste or smell, continuous cough or high temperature - above 38c).