Spring Days Out In Somerset
Spring has finally arrived, and in 2022, it has come with a renewed sense of hope for all the things we weren’t able to do last year, thanks to the pandemic.
The Best Days Out In GLastonbury, Wells And Many more
From Easter-themed family fun, to celebrations of all that is growing in the garden, there is lots to see and do in Somerset this season. The city of Wells is perhaps the best place to start, with the Bishops’ Palace (bishopspalace.org.uk) kicking off the season in a joyful mood with a sea shanty singing workshop on March 12. A rare plant sale follows on March 20 and there is a members-only tour of the gardens in all their springtime glory on March 30. During the school Easter holidays, wildflower seedbomb crafting is planned alongside falconry displays.
Families who love nature might be interested in the pond dipping and wildlife talks taking place on open days throughout Easter at the Secret World Wildlife Rescue (secretworld.org), in Highbridge, not far from Bridgwater.
There are also plenty of opportunities for families to get involved with lambing season. At the Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park (avonvalley.co.uk) in Keynsham, VIP tours to meet and feed the lambs and ewes are available but must be booked in groups of up to 6 people. Lambing is also a very exciting time over at Somerset Sheep Trekking (somersetsheeptrekking.co.uk), in the Blackdown Hills, and visitors can look out for live births as they tour the farm. Orphan lambs can be given cuddles and visitors will also be able to help farmers out with various tasks.
In Taunton, the local choral society (tauntonchoralsociety.org.uk) is welcoming the change of season with a Spring Concert at St Mary’s Church, featuring works from Mozart and Elgar.
While performances cover a range of subjects, the Spring Forward dance festival (takeart.org/spring-forward) takes the new energy of the season and culminates in three performances across Somerset from March 18-24. Catch the shows, which involve a number of different dance groups, in Taunton, Yeovil then finally in Bridgwater.
The Newt’s extensive gardens, just outside Wincanton, can be explored via various guided dawn walks this spring. Visitors must be members to enter the gardens and the walks cost £45 a ticket. Those wanting to create beautiful souvenirs of the season can book one of two blossom pressing and mounting courses using flowers collected from the gardens (£125).
Other gardens to seek out this spring include those belonging to the National Trust (nationaltrust.org.uk), such as Barrington Court, near Ilminster, which has more than 70 varieties of apples growing in its orchards. The trees here also include quince, pear and medlar and froth with blossom in spring. The estate’s white garden will start to see white tulips and forget-me-nots soon.
At Lytes Cary Manor, just minutes outside of Ilchester, spring brings early crocuses, anemones and daffodils, blossoms in the old orchard and striking snakeshead fritillaries. Later in the spring, a splendid display of camassias appears in the orchard too. Tintinhull Garden, nearby, expects large magnolias to bloom in Cedar Court and cherry trees to form clouds of blossom elsewhere.
The apple orchards at the Burrow Hill cider farm (somersetciderbrandy.com), not far from Ilminster, will be open for picnics on Saturdays during blossom season, with drinks served from the cider bus that is a feature each year at Glastonbury Festival.
Those who are really serious about embracing the arrival of spring might want to book a sound bath and spring ritual experience at New Cross Farmhouse (newcrossfarmhouse.com) in South Petherton, on March 26. The sound bath journey will be held outdoors and guided by Elsa Field, the Temple Priestess of the Glastonbury Goddess Temple, who also has a doctorate in forest ecology.
Many National Trust properties – such as Tyntesfield, in north Somerset, and Montacute House, outside Yeovil (April 9-24) – plan to run Easter egg trails this year. They feature nature-inspired fun en route, with a chocolate egg prize at the end. For something different, the lakeside glamping site Marston Park (marstonpark.co.uk), near Frome, will also host an Easter egg hunt in the woods this year. The luxury bell tent accommodation here sits within an art installation currently, with the glowing lights of artist Bruce Munro’s creation becoming apparent as night falls after a day of crisp spring sunshine.
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