Splendid Seeds – Family Friendly Afternoon at Harcourt Arboretum

It was our last family friendly afternoon for this summer at Harcourt Arboretum on Tuesday and we were all about seeds! The Splendid Seeds event was a great way to end our summer family friendlies themed to parts of a plant because at this time of year the Arboretum has many splendid seeds on display. We have seeds that look like alligators, some that look like tiny cucumbers, smooth seeds and spikey seeds, seeds that are out but somehow hidden…if you would like to see what I am describing then come along to the Arboretum and follow our Splendid Seeds trail that will run until Monday 1^st September. Don’t miss your chance to see some wonderfully weird seeds chosen by yours truly! The good news is if you can’t make it until after Monday, most of our splendid seeds at the Arboretum will be visible well into autumn.

 

Our Splendid Seeds trail was of course accompanied by three craft activities for families that used a variety of seeds. Families could make a grass head monster, cone wind chime/mobile, and popcorn rain sticks. 

Despite having rain for the entire event there were families who braved the weather to spend the afternoon with us. We have one table outside that is covered by a shelter and even though we didn’t have high numbers, there were always people making crafts under the shelter throughout the entire event. It was great that families were able to stay around a bit longer because it gave the children time to really get into all three crafts and allowed us to get to know our visitors better.

“The craft activities are fab: seed related, accessible, good helpers.”

“We had lots of fun – loved making the rain maker – loved filling up + making my grass head monster.”

“Thank you! I love the grass seed monsters!”

“My favourite were the redwood cones on the trail.” – 7 year old participant

“Two wonderful activities. Thanks very much to everyone for their cheerful help.”

“Brilliant.” – 6 year old participant

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers this week who kept smiling and helping despite the weather conditions. Also, thank you to all the families who came along to our events this August. It was great getting to meet many new people and helping them explore the Arboretum in different ways.

Corie Edwards.

Fabulous Flowers – Family Friendly Afternoon at Harcourt Arboretum

We were all about flowers at this week’s family friendly afternoon at Harcourt Arboretum!  In late summer and autumn most visitors to the Arboretum notice seeds on a variety of trees, but many do not associate these seeds with the flowers that preceded them, or notice some of those flowers when they were in bloom.  While some trees have showy flowers that demand attention, others have subtle flowers that are easily missed.  Therefore this week’s trail highlights some of the fabulous flowers to be found at the Arboretum through the year from bright rhododendron and magnolia to understated oak and Acer.

If you would like to see which of our flowers are in bloom in August and learn about flowers that bloom at other times of the year, for instance February, come to the Arboretum this week and take part in our Fabulous Flowers trail that runs until Monday 25^th August.

Eucryphia - in flower now

As always with our family friendly afternoons we had three crafts for families to make. There were stem flowers made with cut up recycled paper and a stick, six petal flowers made with recycled paper and strung up with raffia, and pipe cleaner flowers that could be big and fluffy or thin and shiny.

 

Children (and parents) seemed to enjoy making all three crafts with none being favoured. We had a great turnout of repeat visitors as well as new faces this week. It is great to know that families are enjoying their time with us by saying so and also by coming to multiple events.

 

Our event would not have been a success without the help of our two wonderful volunteers this week. Their readiness to help fold loads of bits of paper and help little ones with sellotape dispensers did not go unnoticed by staff and parents.

“I liked making the stick flowers.” - 6 ½ year old participant

“I liked making the flowers.” - 4 ½ year old participant

“It was EPIC.” - 5 year old participant

“The activities are great + the staff really good with the little ones.”

“Great flower making…excellent helpers.”

“Lovely crafts, thank you! And attentive staff.”

If you would like to participate in our summer family friendly afternoons here at the Arboretum there is just one chance left! Splendid Seeds will take place on Tuesday 26^th August from 1 pm – 4 pm.  See you there!

Corie Edwards.

Brilliant Bark - Family Friendly Afternoon at Harcourt Arboretum

This week at Harcourt Arboretum our family friendly afternoon was all about bark! Bark is an essential part of trees and its look and texture vary between species. We wanted families to get a sense of this by going on our bark trail to see some of the different varieties we have on site and by gently touching the trees protective layer. From talking with children whilst they were making crafts it was clear that the favourite bark of the day came from a Prunus serrula, Chinese Cherry (it is my favourite too!). If you would like to see why and judge if it would be your favourite, come along to the Arboretum this week and take part in our Brilliant Bark Trail running until Monday 18^th August 2014.

The crafts we had for the afternoon came from the pieces that naturally fall off our Pinus nigra, Corsican Pines and papery bark we collected from a Silver Birch that had to be taken down by our Arborists recently. We would never take bark off of a living tree. The families got to use these natural resources to make birch bookmarks, a matching pairs game, and a name band (depending on the length of their name the band could be a bracelet or headband or door sign).

 

The event went really well because of the number of participants and help from two wonderful volunteers. I thoroughly enjoyed helping to design this event and getting to work with children on their crafts in the afternoon. Families seemed to have enjoyed their time as well based on feedback we received and we had a good amount of repeat families attend who I hope will attend the next two as well.

 

 “I liked playing the game. I had fun.”

“I like my headband. We will come back.”

“I like making the bracelet. I liked using the bark.”

“I like making the book mark + looking at + feeling the bark”

“Lovely activity. Lots of helpful advice and guidance with great encouragement.”

Next Tuesday 19^th August we will be finding out about Fabulous Flowers, for more information, please click here. Please come along from 1.00pm-4.00pm.

Corie Edwards.