THE GREAT ’50 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU’RE 11¾

Lyme Park, Disley, Nr Stockport
Sat 24 – Mon 26 May, 11am – 4pm

Build a den, skim a stone, fly a kite or dam a stream – just some of the activities you can tick off at Lyme Park over the Bank Holiday Weekend as part of Lyme’s ‘Great 50 things Challenge’.

In March 2012, the National Trust published its  ‘Natural Childhood’ report which highlighted evidence of a long-term and dramatic decline in children’s relationship with the outdoors, calling for urgent action to bridge this growing gap before it was too late.

Off the back of the research the Trust launched ’50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ ‘ which aimed to encourage families and children to get outdoors and to reconnect with the natural environment on their doorstep and this year Lyme Park is leading the way with its ‘Great 50 Things Challenge’.

Caroline Heap is Lyme’s Visitor Experience Manager. “The ’50 Things’ campaign has been incredibly successful over the past two years” she says. “So we decided to really pull out all the stops and offer a ’Great 50 things Challenge weekend”, where you can try 23 of the 50 outdoor activities across three days of the Bank Holiday.

It’ll be amazing if kids can do it – it is quite a challenge but great fun. Most of the activities are self led but there will be several which our rangers will be leading. Just pick up a ’50 Things Challenge’ booklet and tick of the activities as you go.

Overall we can offer 29 activities – but 6 of these are seasonal, eg playing conkers or looking for frog spawn – so come back during the year and tick these off your list as well!”

In 2013 Lyme was voted the top National Trust place for den building – No 4 on the ‘50 things to do’ list – and it’s ‘Great 50 Things Challenge’ weekend launches a summer of outdoor activities at Trust places across Cheshire and the North West.

You can try ’50 things’ activities across Cheshire this summer at Dunham Massey, Hare Hill Garden, Alderley Edge, Little Moreton Hall, Quarry Bank Mill, Bickerton Hill and Heswall Fields.

To find out more about Lyme Park’s ‘Great 50 things Challenge Weekend’, 24 – 26 May, go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lymepark

Let us know how you get on… Twitter: @NTLymePark Facebook: facebook/Lyme-Park-NT

For more information about ’50 Things’ activities this half-term go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/northwest