NI Science Festival

Celebrating 10 years of inspiring the future

Immerse yourself in an interstellar world of scientific exploration at this year's NI Science Festival.

Discover how you, the universe and everything in between behaves. Enjoy a wide range of talks, tours and workshops, from the science of compost to behind-the-scenes conservation and so much more at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens. Don't miss out on these special, one-of-a-kind events.

When

14-22 February 2025

Ticketing information

All activities are free for members.

Please check each event to see if it is included in palace admission or requires a separate ticket.

Buy tickets

A beginner’s guide to the science of compost

For beginner gardeners who want to know the science behind composting and keeping your soil healthy, the pH, texture and structure of the soil and soil organisms, find out more about the science of compost.

Hillsborough Castle’s gardeners will show you how they make compost and how to get the carbon and Nitrogen ratio just right. Learn what can be composted and how to tell when it is ready to use. As well as a guided walk through the Walled Garden, you will visit behind the scenes areas such as the compost yard and the gardeners operating base.

This is an outdoor event so please come dressed appropriately. In the event of wet weather, we will relocate to a polytunnel. Be prepared to get your hands dirty and stuck into soil and compost.

Date: 14 and 21 February 2025

Times: 11:00 and 13:30

Duration: 60 minutes

Price: Adult £20.20 / Concession £16.10 (price includes admission to Hillsborough Castle's gardens). Members go free.

Capacity: 20

Age: 18+

Behind the scenes conservation tour of Hillsborough Castle

Discover how we conserve and preserve furniture, paintings, silverware and clocks for display in the State Rooms of Hillsborough Castle. Led by Castle and Collections Manager David Orr, you will see the techniques used to care for our collections.

Visit behind the scenes rooms not on the regular tours and meet one of our highly skilled specialists.

Date: Thursday 20 February and Friday 21 February 2025

Times: 13:30

Duration: 90 minutes

Price: Adult £20.20 / Concession £16.10 (price includes admission to Hillsborough Castle's gardens). Members go free.

Capacity: 20 persons per session

Age: 10+

The State Drawing Room, showing David Orr (Castle and Collections Manager) standing on scaffolding (teletower) and using a vacuum and small brush to clean an Ormolu chandelier. (Action shot.) The chandelier is suspended on gilt-metal chains, the base is cast as a central vase with candle branches. The electric candles on the chandelier are lit up.

Woodland wonders - taking science outside

Get outdoors and make a mini beast hotel - Let's create a hidey hole for creatures galore. What can you find in the garden, from compost to leaves, bark and sticks to build a small home for mini beasts that live in your garden. Check back on your mini beast hotel and identify which mini beasts have moved in.

Date: 15 February 2025

Times: 10:30, 13:30

Duration: Two hours

Price: Workshops are free on a first-come-first served basis, as part of the general admission price to Hillsborough Castle. Members go free. All supplies provided.

Capacity: 20 persons per session (two sessions per day)

Ages: Suitable for families with children aged 4+

Outdoor shadows - taking science outside

Learn about light, shadows, day and night and everything in-between. How does light travel? What shadows are and how shadows change.

Date: 22 February 2025

Times: 10:30, 13:30

Duration: Two hours

Price: Workshops are free on a first-come-first served basis, as part of the general admission price to Hillsborough Castle. Members go free. All supplies provided.

Capacity: 20 persons per session (two sessions per day)

Ages: Suitable for families with children aged 4+