Easter family fun with English Heritage in Yorkshire
After a long winter, families searching for an excuse to shrug off the scarves and head outdoors for some spring fresh air need look no further than their local English Heritage site, with many of its sites reopening daily, and family fun trails with a chocolate treat at the end!
At Clifford’s Tower in York, Richmond Castle and Whitby Abbey – traditionally known as the ‘home of Easter’ thanks to the Synod of Whitby agreeing the date of Easter nearly 1350 years ago – family fun trails will ensure that children explore every nook and cranny of the ruins to find all the clues. Onlywhen their trail sheets are completed will they receive their reward – a small Lindt chocolate bunny! The trails run daily from 10.00am to 6.00pm over the Easter weekend (29 March to 1 April).
At Brodsworth Hall, near Doncaster, a rewarding trail will also be on offer for the whole of the Easter holidays – Friday 29 March to 14 March – which is no mean feat considering that the historic country house will be entering a period of rationing and make-do-and-mend during 2013 as it remembers the impact of World War II on the family, staff and community of the Brodsworth Estate. Thankfully, Easter eggs will not be of the powdered variety, but children may be shocked by how much of their rationing allowance the chocolate prize on offer over the Easter weekend would use up! The trail runs daily from 11.00am to 5.00pm around the restored Victorian gardens, which will once again be starting to bloom.
At Rievaulx Abbey, near Helmsley, there will be no chicks – just full-grown birds, as the site marks Easter with displays of medieval falconry, the sport of kings! The event focuses on the early medieval period, when falconry became an integral part of royal life – the age when castles were being built with an eye not only on their strategic position, but also the abundance of hunting grounds in the vicinity. Master falconers Mike and Emma Raphael will host three days of aerial displays from Good Friday 29 March to Easter Monday (1 April), and also give visitors a chance to see some of the magnificent raptors up close in the tented Hawk Mews.
“Easter is a celebration of rebirth, and for many of our sites, that is exactly what you get – a new season with daily opening at many of our historic castles, abbeys and houses, with many people taking advantage of the long bank holiday weekend and school holidays to start venturing outdoors once again,” comments Gemma Sneyd, marketing manager for English Heritage in Yorkshire. “Whether you want family fun at one of our sites hosting Easter trails, or you are looking for the peace and quiet with beautiful scenery at sites like Mount Grace Priory, we look after some of the most stunning venues in the region, with a warm welcome across Yorkshire.”
Indeed, spring offers unique experiences at many of English Heritage’s properties, from the blooming of the vibrant purple fairy foxgloves at Middleham Castle – which has enjoyed a huge surge in interest in recent months thanks to the discovery of the body of Richard III, who spent his childhood at the castle, to the spectacular spring views from Scarborough Castle, where you can watch brave souls entering the sea in the North and South Bays whilst enjoying a piping hot drink from the on-site café.
For further details of English Heritage sites in the Yorkshire region, or for information on English Heritage membership, please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/yorkshire or call 0871 333 1181 for a free guide.
ENDS
Notes to editors: The 2013 English Heritage events press pack is now available. Please follow the link at the bottom of this email to download a PDF version, or if you would like a hard copy or a copy on CD (including the image bank) please email jay@pyperyork.co.uk
For further media information, please contact:
Jay Commins – PRO English Heritage (Yorkshire)
Tel: 01904 500698
Mob: 07810 546567
Email: jay@pyperyork.co.uk
