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| Maize |
School’s out, with weeks of summer holiday fun for children and their families at Exbury.
Young explorers can take their mums and dads to try to solve the riddle of the ‘Lost City of El Nummares’ uncovered recently at a field opposite the world-famous Gardens.
The city, laid out in the shape of a huge temple, just happens to be where the popular Maize Maze is built each year.
Hidden in the winding pathways of the Maze, which has at its heart a Golden Temple, is a priceless treasure, which might be discovered from the cryptic panels giving clues to its whereabouts.
There are also many statues, which can be examined by those who venture into the lost city. These statues reveal much about the lost civilization, showing what the people wore, and how they dressed their hair.
Across the road, in the Gardens is a fun family trail, designed to take children and their parents to some of the most unusual and interesting parts.
Those following the trail will see the giant Wellingtonia which is the tallest tree at Exbury, the extraordinary ‘wiggly tree’, huge gunnera plants, looking like overgrown rhubarb, in the Jurassic bog garden and the enormous and ancient Koi carp in the ponds.
Early in August very young children will be invited to bring their cuddly toys on the steam train that runs through part of the Garden, where they can enjoy a sing-along and woodland activities, see nursery rhyme characters by the side of the track and enter colouring competitions.
Early risers will look forward to a special breakfast walk, where head gardener, tree expert John Anderson, will explore some of Exbury’s more unusual scents.
This ‘sensory’ walk will show off such unusual trees such as the ‘headache tree’ and a variety of plants, including Rhododendron racemosum, which releases a spicy eucalyptus scent when its leaves are rubbed.
This leisurely early morning stroll around Exbury will be followed by a cooked breakfast with ingredients supplied by local producers.
The Maize Maze opens on Thursday July 24, closing six weeks later on 2 September. The Maze is open daily between 10am – 5.30pm (last admission 4pm).
A joint admission ticket to the Maze and the Gardens is available.
The Summer Holiday Family Trail is also available from July 24; it is free to everyone who buys admission to the Gardens.
The Woodland Adventures weekend is August 2nd and 3rd, while the Sensory Breakfast Walk, which must be booked, is on Saturday August 9th. Tickets (£16) available on 023 8024 5750.
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