It’s half term again, and what sunny, (but chilly!) weather we’re enjoying. It has led to some glorious autumn colour here this year, with a lot more to come, we hope. And the sunshine is filling everyone with smiles.
So far this week our family activities have included tree climbing and bird box making, and for Friday, Saturday and Sunday we have lots of machinery to discover. We’ve long since noticed that our younger visitors have a fascination for tractors so the turf and machinery department at Wisley have decided to create a safe yet fun environment where they can learn more about them.
There’ll be trailer rides around the autumnal Jubilee Arboretum, weather permitting, and a display of modern and vintage tractors, with an exhibit featuring all of Wisley mowers. The Rural Life Centre in Farnham is bringing a collection of vintage gardening tools and machines. http://www.rurallife.plus.com/rlc/
Most importantly, the gardening experts will be on hand to answer any lawn or machinery questions.
So that’s the “heavy plant”. The “real plant” focus for this event is the grass that the machines help us maintain in our lawns at Wisley. You’ll be able to create grass head characters out of old tights, using different types of grass seed for different hair styles. Look out for Beautiful Beverley Browntop, Resilient Roy Rye and Pesky Pete Poa, amongst others.
Simon Akeroyd, Senior Supervisor of the Turf Dept is the chairman of our Children’s Strategy Group who, along with the Family Learning Officer, have helped bring these events alive. He told me, “the Turf and Machinery department are really excited about running this family event. All the activities organised by the Children’s strategy group are about combining fun with learning for the younger generation. Children are the future custodians of the planet; by teaching them about plants and our surrounding environment we hope to capture their interest and fuel a passion at a young age that we stay with them for life.”
The timetable for the rest of the week is:-
Thursday 30 October
Grow your own spider
Join the Glass Department in the Clore Learning Centre to pot up your very own baby spider plant to grow back at home.
Friday 31 October - Sunday 2 November
Fun with grass and machines
Ride in a trailer, see exciting tractors and garden machines from Wisley’s Estate team and the Museum of Rural Life, then make a grass head character to take home.