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Garden Self-led School Visits

NEW for 2024-25

Available Wednesdays - Fridays

Self led spaces are limited.  We can accommodate up to 3 classes with a maximum of 32 pupils each, per day.

What's included:

  • Access to Hillsborough Castle's 96 acres of gardens.
  • Access to all garden areas open on the day of your visit, including The Imaginary Menagerie play trails and the 4-acre Walled Garden.
  • Pre-visit email including two teacher planning passes.
  • When available, normally from Easter – Hallowe'en, use of the stretch tent in the gardens for lunch. This space is not available to pre-book and is available on a first come, first served basis, by all garden visitors. 
  • Self-led activity trails for key stages 1-3

What's not included:

  • Access to Hillsborough Castle's State Rooms. 
  • A facilitated school session.
  • An indoor lunch space.  

Garden resources

Take your students on an adventure when you visit Hillsborough Castle & Gardens. Our free resources are designed to help you plan and make the most of your visit.

View of the Walled Garden with plants in the sunshine.

The walled garden Map

This Walled Garden Map resource encourages children to explore their surroundings in new and unexpected ways. They are encouraged to explore the Walled Garden and consider what key features should be included on their map.

Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
Subject:The World Around Us, Language and Literacy, The Arts, PDMU
Topic: Nature, Gardens, Maps, the Sense
Session Type: Self led resource

The Glen at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, showing a stream running through a woody green area under a blue sky.

Gardener's Notebook

This Gardener’s Notebook encourages children to explore the gardens at Hillsborough Castle, focusing particularly on the plants and animals that live there.

Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
Subject: Numeracy, The World Around Us, Language and Literacy, The Arts
Topic: Nature, Weather, Gardens, Plants & Animals, the Senses
Session Type: Self led resource

The Glen Lawn showing pink rhododendrons in bloom on the left of the image.

Dove Puppet Template

Did you know, from 1662, the Downshire family had to pay rent to the Crown, allowing them to hold a market? The rent was two white doves a year! Now you can make your own flying dove puppet back at school!

Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
Subject: Language and Literacy, The Arts
Topic: Nature, Gardens, Art & Craft
Session Type: Self led resource

Yew Tree Walk and Lady Alice's Temple at Hillsborough Castle Gardens.

Chatterbox

Create your own chatterbox game and play with your friends. Can you use your senses to explore the gardens? Tickle your brain cells with our tricky riddles? What will you uncover as you play this chatterbox game?

Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
Subject: Numeracy, Language and Literacy, The World Around Us, The Arts
Topic: Nature, Gardens
Session Type: Self led resource

The bust of Ossian by Alexander Stoddard in the Glen at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, in front of a green hedge

Story Starter

The gardens at Hillsborough Castle are filled with amazing things. There are temples, an ice house, a burial ground, ancient ruins (that aren’t actually ancient at all), a lost garden, even a statue of the storyteller Ossian...and lots more!

Key Stage 2
Subject: Language and Literacy, The World Around Us, The Arts
Topic: Storytelling, Nature, Gardens
Session Type: Self led resource