There’s drama in the Gardens with a visit from the Queen and one of the UK’s top theatre company performances!
More fantastic family activities are on offer this summer during August and September at Castle Kennedy Gardens, one of Scotland’s finest gardens.
A visit from the Queen (bee) will take place on Sunday 14 August with The Wonders of Honey Bees, a new event in partnership with Western Galloway Bee Association (WGBA) offering visitors a chance to meet with royalty! Families are invited to view the meticulous activity of the Queen bee and her workers, in complete safety, by using a glass fronted observation hive.
Members of WGBA will be on hand to show bee keeping suits and equipment and explain the secret lives of these fascinating creatures and the importance of bees to our environment. Information on how to help our bees and advice on which plants and trees help their habitat will be provided as well as expert education on Bee Keeping in Scotland. Honey wax candles, specific bee friendly plants and delicious honey will all be available for sale at various stalls set up for the special day.
Popular activities, Lighting A Campfire and Camp Fire Treats will run once more in morning and afternoon sessions on Wednesday 17 August teaching children how to light a fire safely whilst enjoying the great outdoors.
Castle Kennedy Gardens will then play host to an incredible theatre performance of Danny the Champion of the World, a Roald Dahl favourite, ideal for families and children aged 5+. The quality theatre production delivers great storytelling and first class actors perform the story of how young Danny saves his devoted father who is caught poaching by a greedy estate owner.
The open air theatre will be performed in front of the atmospheric, 16th century Castle Kennedy ruins by one of the UK’s top theatre companies, Illyria, on the afternoon of Sunday 21 August. With Illyria having previously presented other Roald Dahl favourites such as last year’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and George’s Marvellous Medicine this year’s performance is expected to sell out quickly so it is advised to book tickets as early as possible with a 10% discount available online.
For gardening enthusiasts the Head Gardener of Castle Kennedy Gardens will offer a Plant Propagation and Seed Sowing Guided Walk on Wednesday 24 August providing visitors with expert advice on how to grow your own, and a Late Summer Guided Walk on Wednesday 29 September invites people to take a closer look at the colourful blooming flowers and plants which flourish in the Walled Garden during the latter part of the season.
New family activities introduced this year and hosted by the Garden Ranger will run through September with creative Tree Faces and Create Leaf Art sessions on Sunday 11 September. Children will love seeking out materials from the environment around them during these sessions and will also be able to create characters concocted from mud, leaves and sticks in an Autumn Art session on the morning of Sunday 25 September. An afternoon session on the same day invites families to help feed and support the many varieties of birds which visit the Garden as Make a Heart Shaped Bird Feeder.
In October, for the very first time, Castle Kennedy Gardens will host a variety of family events including Star Gazing on Wednesday 26 October, NEW Ghostly Halloween Tours between Saturday 29 and Monday 31 October as well as a NEW Pumpkin Trail running between 15 and 30 October.
All children must be accompanied by an adult, wear appropriate clothing and meet at Castle Kennedy ruins.
For more information about Castle Kennedy Gardens please contact 01581 400 225 or the Stair Estates office on 01776 702 024 visit www.castlekennedygardens.com @CastleKennedyGS, Facebook and google +
