WITH holidays abroad off the cards for many this summer National Trust places around Hampshire are inviting families to dive into a range of new experiences that will help reconnect them with life’s simple pleasures.
Remember how it feels to walk barefoot on tickly grass, play Pooh Sticks, or run summer races Thanks to funding from Sport England, there are ‘Get set, go’ cards at many venues offering fun ideas that will stretch lockdown legs and get kids exploring outdoors, from outdoor games to nature challenges.
There are acres of space to run, play, jump and tune into summer nature, at Mottisfont, near Romsey. With its beautiful chalk stream river and bridges, this is the National Trust’s no.1 destination for Pooh Sticks. The spacious lawns are the perfect place to peel off shoes and feel cool springy turf beneath bare feet, or to enjoy a family picnic.
Mottisfont’s new Sights & Sounds of Summer family trail has loads of fun sporting challenges, inspired by beautiful Ladybird Book nature illustrations on show in the house and in the gardens.
Hinton Ampner country house and its beautiful gardens sit in a picture-perfect rural landscape near Alresford, with views across the South Downs. Beyond lie parkland and woods - perfect for family adventures.
Full of hedges, nooks and crannies, the gardens are great for summer games of hide and seek. Gnarled old trees litter the nearby parkland – some of them are good for tree climbing or even climbing inside - and in the tufty grass you’ll glimpse butterflies and bees.
Hinton’s new ‘Discover and Design’ trail booklet is packed with fun summer challenges that families can enjoy together. Pose like an old garden statue, colour in and count the flowers in the walled garden, and see who can take the longest to walk the Long Walk.
Perched high on the South Downs, Uppark takes in views as far south as the English Channel. It’s terrific for kite flying, and the place to be for family outdoor games. There’s giant chess, Jenga and Connect 4 to try on the lawns, or how about a spot of croquet? Try telling the time by a sundial, or counting the yummy smells in the scented garden, on the ‘Uncover Uppark’ activity trail.
Grab your ‘Passport to Summer booklet, for new adventures at The Vyne country estate near Basingstoke. The former Tudor ‘powerhouse’ was a favourite of King Henry VIII, who loved to hunt through the fields and woods. There are grassy paths to run along, birds to spy on from the bird hide, and insects to discover in the wetlands, flittering through tall grasses. See nationaltrust.org.uk/hampshire
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