Ryedale Residents Return!

Scampston's most successful Community Weekend to-date

It's been a busy weekend: 1500 visitors & a whopping 400 slices of cake! 

This weekend we opened the garden gates once more for another Community Weekend. Word had clearly spread about the event, as local residents arrived in droves all making the most of the offer of free entry.

With glorious sunshine across the whole weekend, especially the Sunday, visitors were able to enjoy the gardens at this early stage in the season. Young children enjoyed exploring the fairy trail and finding our resident fairies. 

Grown ups enjoyed tucking into one of our scones, baked that morning. Some of them did really deserve it, having cycled over 20 miles to Scampston in first place, and facing the same journey home! 

An incredible number of visitors had never been before, so we hope they were pleasantly surprised, and that they will be back later in the season when the garden is in full bloom. Many had recently moved to the area and were thrilled to be able to get an introduction to all we have to offer here at Scampston.

Ryedale, it's been an absolute pleasure! 

  

All things bright and beautiful

We are delighted to be working closely with Natural England this year to offer a whole series of exciting family activities and talks throughout the season. 

It all kicked off on Tuesday this week with a Wonderful Wildlife Day with wormeries, barn owls and other wildlife. 

Making Wormeries with the North Yorkshire Rotters

The wormery was a great success with the children, especially the boys!  They were thrilled to take home a mini wormery with them. 

 

Meeting an Owl from Ryedale Wildlife Rehabilitation

Jean Thorpe from Ryedale Wildlife Rehabilitation, brought a barn owl to the event.  “Its always good to get youngsters interested in wildlife”. Parents and children were able to learn how to dissect an owl pellet. The children then went on to make owls out of paper plates.

Craig Ralston, Natural England also showed children how to ring birds and to remove them when trapped in netting. He said “It was great to see such a good turn out and to see such positive engagement going on – and hopefully inspiring the next generation with the natural environment.”

Do join us for our next event on Wednesday 26th April for the first in a series of family-friendly mini lectures from Natural England. The talk will be 6.30pm - 8pm. 

The first talk will show the importance of the Lower Derwent Valley and the wildlife it supports. Children will also hear the incredible tales and travels of 'Winston' the whimbrel, and see some incredible photography. 

Please see our website for more details: http://www.scampston.co.uk/DB/events-diary/natural-england-the-world-of-wildlife 

Keep an eye out as more will be announced throughout the year!